Power Rankings

MLS Power Rankings, Week 24: Real Salt Lake back on top after New York Red Bulls tumble

Power Rankings RSL

Note: Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. The Power Rankings are voted on by the editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com, and all comments are written by the editorial staff. All game times are Eastern.


Let us know what you think in the comments below.

<strong>Rank</strong>
<strong>Trending</strong>
<strong>Club</strong>
<strong>Comment</strong>
<strong>1</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 2</p>
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<p>RSL are not only good, they&#39;re also unpredictable. They pulled a surprise switch to a brand new formation (4-3-3) and still found a way to win. Jason Kreis &amp; Co. didn&#39;t play their best soccer vs. Houston, but they keep piling up the points.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-RSL-v-HOU/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Houston, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-L-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at LA (10:30 pm ET,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>2</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 5</p>
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<p>Sporting Kansas City got back on track with a dominant 3-0 win over New England last week. Perhaps more importantly, they&#39;ve made it back atop the Eastern Conference standings, where most expected them to be all along.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-SKC-v-NE/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. New England, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-L-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>:&nbsp;</strong>Sunday at San Jose (10 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>3</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 3</p>
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<p>You know that old saying, &quot;They couldn&#39;t hit the broad side of a barn&quot;? The Rapids took 26 shots against Chivas and only seven were on goal. They&#39;re still rolling, but that&#39;s simply not sustainable. Gabriel Torres can&#39;t suit up soon enough.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-11-CHV-v-COL/recap" target="_blank">Drew at Chivas USA, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-D-W-D-D</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>: </strong>Saturday vs. Vancouver (9:30 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>4</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 4</p>
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<p>After the US Open Cup loss, you have to think a weekend of rest felt good. You also have to wonder how they didn&#39;t jump ahead of the Rapids on the basis of the Diego Valeri purchase alone. Eh, the Power Rankings Politburo is odd sometimes.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Bye</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-D-L-D</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. FC Dallas (11 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>5</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 1</p>
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<p>Well, that didn&#39;t last very long. No Henry, no Cahill, no Petke ... <em>big</em>&nbsp;problems. The Red Bulls looked toothless against the Crew. If they&#39;re going to be the contenders everyone says &ndash; or <em>said</em> &ndash; they are, they&#39;re going to need more bite from the non-DPs.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-CLB-v-NY/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Columbus, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-D-W-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Philadelphia (8 pm, NBCSN)</li></ul>
<strong>6</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 6</p>
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<p>Bruce Arena can blame the officials all he wants (and he&#39;s within his rights to here). But the fact remains: LA have surrendered 10 goals this season in the final 15 minutes of games. That puts them in equal company with ... FC Dallas. That&#39;s not a flattering comparison.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-11-DAL-v-LA/recap" target="_blank">Drew at FC Dallas, 3-3</a></li><li><strong>Last Five</strong>: W-L-W-L-D</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Real Salt Lake (10:30 pm ET,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>7</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 8</p>
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<p>When you have finishers like Camilo (tied atop the league with 14 goals) and Kenny Miller, you tend to pick up wins when you might not entirely deserve them. San Jose were arguably the better team at BC Place, but the &#39;Caps still jump to second in the West.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-VAN-v-SJ/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. San Jose, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-L-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Colorado (9:30 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>8</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 7</p>
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<p>The Dynamo will only go as far as Boniek Garcia takes them. They missed his skill and vision in Salt Lake (the Honduran came on as a late sub), where a sterile Houston attack struggled to create chances. &nbsp;</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-RSL-v-HOU/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Real Salt Lake, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-D-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. Seattle (9 pm ET,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>9</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 10</p>
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<p>Clint Dempsey&#39;s much-anticipated (and earlier-than-expected) Sounders debut was solid, if not scintillating. Deuce showed flashes, though, and with Seattle third in MLS in points per game, they&#39;re looking like dark-horse Shield contenders.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-TOR-v-SEA/recap" target="_blank">Won at Toronto FC, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-D-W-W-W</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Houston (9 pm ET,&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul><ul></ul>
<strong>10</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 11</p>
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<p>Without Mike Magee, Chris Rolfe and Patrick Nyarko in the XI, the Fire were fighting an uphill battle vs. the Impact. But two early goals and some dogged defending later, Chicago are two points out of the playoffs with wins in six of their last nine.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-CHI-v-MTL/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Montreal, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five:</strong> L-W-D-W-W</li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at New England (7:30 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>11</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 9</p>
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<p>So &hellip; what happened? The early-season world beaters came back down to earth and are back in the Eastern Conference peloton, although they do boast a couple games in hand. Still, one win in eight? That ain&#39;t gonna cut it.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-CHI-v-MTL/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Chicago, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-D-W-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. D.C. United (7 pm ET, TSN2/RDS/<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>12</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 12</p>
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<p>Conor Casey has taken up the scoring burden since Jack McInerney went cold at the start of the summer &ndash; just imagine if they actually got into form at the same time.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-PHI-v-DC/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. D.C. United, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-D-W-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday at New York (8 pm ET, NBCSN)</li></ul>
<strong>13</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 14</p>
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<p>If Mauro Diaz is the future David Ferreira &ndash; as many expect &ndash; this Dallas team is heading in a different direction faster than advertised. Maybe just not soon enough.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-11-DAL-v-LA/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. LA, 3-3</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-D-L-D</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Portland (11 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>14</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 13</p>
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<p>The snakebit season continues for the Earthquakes. They actually played well on the road at BC Place, but between great saves and missed chances, they got nothing for their efforts. Even tougher opposition awaits.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-VAN-v-SJ/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Vancouver, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-W-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday vs. Sporting Kansas City (10 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>15</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 13</p>
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<p>Was it beautiful? Not really. But they did fire off 20 shots, got a mind-blowing Goal of the Year candidate from Federico Higuain and put a stop to a three-game losing streak. They&#39;ll take it.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-CLB-v-NY/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. New York, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-L-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Toronto FC (7:30 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>16</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 15</p>
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<p>Although Jimmy Nielsen made a few crucial saves, and the red cards distorted the dominance displayed by Sporting KC, the Revs had no answers on Saturday, and looked like they were out of the game from the start.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-SKC-v-NE/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Sporting Kansas City, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-W-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Chicago (7:30 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>17</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 16</p>
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<p>Another loss, a couple more defensive bloopers to add to the lowlight reel. By now Ryan Nelsen seems resigned to the occasional flub, but there&#39;s still no denying TFC are looking more and more capable by the week.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-TOR-v-SEA/recap" target="_blank">Lost vs. Seattle, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-D-W-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>: </strong>Saturday at Columbus (7:30 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>18</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 18</p>
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There was optimism among United supporters as they watched their club&#39;s kids hold their own on the road against neighborhood rivals. Can Ben Olsen use his youngest charges to build the core of a 2014 contender? <ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-10-PHI-v-DC/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Philadelphia, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-L-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>: </strong>Saturday at Montreal (7 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>19</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 19</p>
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<p>Make it eight total ejections on the season for the bumbling Goats. Even Erick &quot;El Cubo&quot; Torres, who&#39;s barely been around for a month, already thinks it&#39;s time for Jos&eacute; Luis Real and his coaching staff to start punishing players for getting thrown out.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-08-11-CHV-v-COL/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. Colorado, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-L-W-L</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game</strong><strong>:</strong> Aug. 21 vs. FC Dallas</li></ul>