BIGGEST MOVERS: NY, TOR +4 spots | NYC -6 spots
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7
Eight games in 29 days across all competitions is a brutal schedule. Dallas handled it with aplomb, going 6-1-1 and finishing with a precious point at Colorado. Things get much harder, however, if/when Fabian Castillo leaves.
Latest result: Drew at Colorado, 1-1
Last five results: W-W-L-W-D
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Vancouver (TSN in Canada; MLS LIVE in US)
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 20
Fifteen games unbeaten, but only one win in their last five. Colorado are having a unique season, and it's pretty clear that they're going to have to ride their defense as far as it can take them.
Latest result: Drew vs. Dallas, 1-1
Last five results: D-D-D-W-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at NYCFC (MLS LIVE)
3
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 9
The only team in the league with a winning streak, the Galaxy aren't firing on all cylinders just yet in attack, but their defense has smothered all comers. That's the typical building block for Bruce Arena teams.
Latest result: Won at Portland, 2-1
Last five results: D-W-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at Seattle (ESPN in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
4
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 17
Threw together a dominant 90-minute display, and absolutely rocked the noisy neighbors. This was actually a better all-around performance than the 7-0 win, since it had much more to do with the way RBNY played and much less to do with NYCFC's breakdowns.
Latest result: Won vs. NYCFC, 4-1
Last five results: L-D-W-D-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at Chicago (MLS LIVE)
5
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 9
They have depth all over the field now, they have Jozy Altidore back and Michael Bradley returning, and they have the old Sebastian Giovinco taking entire backlines and lighting them on fire. Things are looking good at BMO Field.
Latest result: Won vs. D.C. United, 4-1
Last five results: D-W-D-L-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Columubus (MLS LIVE)
6
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 19
The backline's taking most of the grief -- Richie Marquez, in particular, has to clear that cross that led to the first Montreal goal -- but we still see huge gaps in the Philly midfield. So too did Ignacio Piatti, which produced nothing but pain for the Union.
Latest result: Lost at Montreal, 5-1
Last five results: L-L-W-D-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS LIVE)
7
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15
Can't buy a win, and the opportunity to climb up the ladder thanks to this homestand has now officially passed them by. For RSL, it's now about rediscovering their finishing touch and hoping that wingers Joao Plata and Burrito Martinez can create something close to the magic they produced on the regular in March, April and May.
Latest result: Drew vs. San Jose, 1-1
Last five results: D-D-L-D-D
Next MLS match: Sunday at Philadelphia (MLS LIVE)
8
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 18
Posted one of the most defensively dominant wins in the league this season — they came within two minutes of being the first team in MLS history to hold an opponent without a shot. Even better news was the way the attack clicked.
Latest result: Won vs. Seattle, 3-0
Last five results: W-W-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Portland (FOX in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
9
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Mostly healthy, and mostly great. Montreal has some very obvious high-level foundational pieces, and added yet another with the acquisition of Hernan Bernardello. They have every reason to believe they can finish in the top two in the East.
Latest result: Won vs. Philadelphia, 5-1
Last five results: W-D-D-L-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at D.C. United (MLS LIVE)
10
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 20
RBNY converted the chances that others have been leaving on the table over the past six weeks — that's one part of it. The other is that the NYCFC midfield looked slow and vulnerable, and Patrick Vieira let his veteran superstars know it in no uncertain terms.
Latest result: Lost at NY Red Bulls, 4-1
Last five results: W-W-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Colorado (MLS LIVE
11
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 12
Portland dropped because of the home loss, and because of the fact that they've won just once in their last five. But they also dropped because of the season-ending injury to Nat Borchers, which leaves serious organizational questions for that back line.
Latest result: Lost vs. LA Galaxy, 2-1
Last five results: D-D-D-W-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at Sporting KC (FOX in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
12
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 17
A 1-0 win over a team that hasn't won on the road in more than two years is a low bar to hit, and the Revs almost didn't clear it. They've improved the defense over the last several weeks, but goal-scoring continues to be troublesome.
Latest result: Won vs. Chicago, 1-0
Last five results: L-L-W-D-W
Next MLS match: Sunday at Orlando City (MLS LIVE)
13
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 14
A point on the road is fine, but this is still true: Only one win in five, and only two in the last two months. The 'Caps need to get hot soon, or they'll end up below the red line.
Latest result: Drew at Houston, 0-0
Last five results: L-D-W-D-D
Next MLS match: Sunday at Dallas (TSN in Canada; MLS LIVE in US)
14
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 14
San Jose is still hanging on by a thread, having slipped five points below the red line and without the ability to generate sustained offense. They'll still scrap, but it's an uphill battle in the West from here on out.
Latest result: Drew at Real Salt Lake, 1-1
Last five results: D-L-L-W-D
Next MLS match: Sunday at Houston (MLS LIVE)
15
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20
Four shutouts in eight games under Wade Barrett is an improvement. When, though, will the goals come?
Latest result: Drew vs. Vancouver, 0-0
Last five results: L-W-D-L-D
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. San Jose (MLS LIVE)
16
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 20
D.C. are the ultimate hot-and-cold team as they haven't strung together any type of result since mid-March. That's left them adrift in the East, and it's not clear what the path forward is for this group.
Latest result: Lost at Toronto, 4-1
Last five results: W-D-L-D-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Montreal (MLS LIVE)
17
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 17
A good fight-back for a point probably ended Columbus's playoff hopes for 2016, which means there's one less striver for OCSC to contend with. The next step is figuring out how to defend a little bit better, because what they've been doing hasn't been working.
Latest result: Drew at Columbus, 2-2
Last five results: L-D-L-D-D
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. New England (MLS LIVE)
18
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 19
No lead is safe.
Latest result: Drew vs. Orlando City, 2-2
Last five results: L-L-D-D-D
Next MLS match: Sunday at Toronto (MLS LIVE)
19
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 18 | LOW: 20
No draw is safe.
Latest result: Lost at New England, 1-0
Last five results: W-L-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS LIVE)
20
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 20
If you'd told the Sounders front office that Jordan Morris would have seven goals by the All-Star break, they'd have been happy. If you'd told them that DP attackers Clint Dempsey and Nelson Valdez would have combined for just three... it's easy to identify this problem, right?
Latest result: Lost at Sporting KC, 3-0
Last five results: D-L-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. LA Galaxy (ESPN in US; MLS LIVE in Canada)
Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks were written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@MLSAnalyst).
