The top four remained the same in this week's poll, but there are rumblings in the middle of the pack. The Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbersand Houston Dynamo all rode big wins to big strides in the poll, while the Colorado Rapids took a dive after a surprising loss in Toronto.
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All match times for this week's games are ET; only MLS regular-season games reflected on schedule.
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<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Last </strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
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<strong>1</strong> |
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If LA were still steaming about the awful offside call in Morelia – and really, how could they not be? – it didn’t show in the weekend’s 3-0 shellacking of Vancouver. They look every bit as good as their record indicates, and Omar Gonzalez may very well be the best player in the league right now at any position.
<ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Vancouver, 3-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19207">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Saturday at Columbus (7:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>WWTWW</li></ul> |
<strong>2</strong> |
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<strong>2</strong> |
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<p>They got the job done midweek down in Costa Rica then brought it back home with a dominant display against a rough and rugged DC side. The bad news, of course, was Mauro Rosales’ knee injury, and the club revealed on Monday that he'll miss 2-4 weeks. Obviously not helpful, but not devastating either.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat D.C. United, 3-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19192">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Vancouver (10:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>TWWLW</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
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<strong>3</strong> |
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They allowed a ton of shots and open play on the wings from Sporting KC, but Nick Rimando and the defense made the result stand up. RSL still aren’t clicking like they were in March and April, but they’re starting to grind out wins now and have a championship pedigree. If Javier Morales comes back as well, watch out.
<ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Sporting KC, 1-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19188">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesday at New York (8 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>), Saturday at D.C. United (7:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>LWWWW</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
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<strong>4</strong> |
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They played 180 minutes last week with heavy hearts, and did so down crucial pieces thanks to injuries and suspension. A depressing draw at home in CCL play – where they were outright robbed of a clear goal – and the 1-0 loss to NY in which they lacked any kind of finishing touch should be the wake-up call they need.
<ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost to New York, 1-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19186">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Houston (4 pm, TeleFutura)</li><li><strong>Last Five:</strong> LTLWL</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
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<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.png" width="55"> |
<p>Sporting waltzed into Rio Tinto and gave RSL everything they could handle, but couldn’t solve Nick Rimando & Co. It’s a loss, but Peter Vermes seemed determined to make sure it was a learning experience as well as he continues to shape his team’s mentality in advance of the playoffs.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Real Salt Lake, 1-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19188">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Friday vs. Philadelphia (8:30 pm, Fox Soccer)</li><li><strong>Last Five:</strong> WLTWL</li></ul> |
<strong>6</strong> |
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<strong>10</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/philadelphia_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>The defensive lapses have stopped as Philly have now strung together five-straight halves of shutout soccer. The offense is still a bit of a mess, though, with only a bit of Sébastien Le Toux brilliance saving them from another scoreless draw at home. As it is, the 1-0 win stopped the bleeding for now.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Columbus, 1-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19175">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Friday at Sporting KC (8:30 pm, Fox Soccer)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>LLTTW</li></ul> |
<strong>7</strong> |
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<strong>8</strong> |
<img alt="" height="50" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/portland_150.png" width="50"> |
<p>The Timbers have won three of their last four and face a season-defining two-game stretch this week: Wednesday at home against San Jose, then a weekend match at RBNY, the team standing between them and the playoffs. If they get all six points, they can pretty much punch their ticket.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat New England, 3-0 <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=18640">(</a><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19112">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesday vs. San Jose (10:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>), Saturday at New York (7:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>LWWTW</li></ul> |
<strong>8</strong> |
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<strong>12</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Houston are a different team with Geoff Cameron at the back, able to deal with quick attackers and make the field small for them. They’re still frail because of mental lapses on set pieces, but were the better team for 180 minutes last week. If this keeps up, they’ll be getting hot at just the right time.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Tied Columbus, 2-2 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19040">HIGHLIGHTS</a>), Beat San Jose, 2-1 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19187">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at FC Dallas (4 pm, TeleFutura)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>WLLTW</li></ul> |
<strong>9</strong> |
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<strong>9</strong> |
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<p>The fight they showed midweek by coming back against Houston left them sapped for the Philly game on the weekend. The good news is that the defense doesn’t look as vulnerable as it did earlier in the month, and with Emmanuel Ekpo, Eddie Gaven and Chad Marshall expected back, things should pick up again.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Tied Houston, 2-2 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19040">HIGHLIGHTS</a>), Lost at Philadelphia, 1-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19175">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. LA (7:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>WLLTL</li></ul> |
<strong>10</strong> |
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<strong>6</strong> |
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Right now Colorado are somewhere between “teetering on the brink” and “going down in flames.” Their hot summer still has them sitting pretty in the playoff race, but last week was a brutal bludgeoning: 4-1 at home vs. Santos Laguna, then 2-1 on the road at TFC. The ship needs righting, quick.
<ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Toronto, 2-1 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19129">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>: </strong>Saturday vs. San Jose (9 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>WTLLL</li></ul> |
<strong>11</strong> |
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<strong>11</strong> |
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They showed a toughness against FC Dallas that they’d been missing since April. They’ll need to keep that same attitude this week against RSL and Portland – two teams that dominate on set pieces, which just so happens to be NY’s biggest weakness. They’ll want at least four points from these two games.
<ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat FC Dallas, 1-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19186">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>: </strong>Wednesday vs. Real Salt Lake (8 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>), Saturday vs Portland (7:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>LTTTW</li></ul> |
<strong>12</strong> |
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<strong>7</strong> |
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<p>They got properly thrashed at Seattle, but that can happen when you play a talented, motivated team on their home field. The real test for DC will be how they handle themselves this week with crucial home games against Chivas and RSL. Three points is the bare minimum from that pair of contests.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Seattle, 3-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19192">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesday vs. Chivas USA (7:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>), Saturday vs. Real Salt Lake (7:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>WTLWL</li></ul> |
<strong>13</strong> |
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<strong>14</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/toronto_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Why are the Reds prioritizing the regular season over the CCL? TFC have virtually no shot at making a playoff run, but they’re still alive in continental play, and you’d think that would be where Aron Winter went all in. The nice win against Colorado really meant nothing, while the huge loss at Pumas probably meant the end of their CCL chances.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Colorado, 2-1 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19129">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Chivas USA (10:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>WLTWW</li></ul> |
<strong>14</strong> |
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<strong>16</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chicago_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Their 10-man 3-2 win over Chivas made last week’s loss to San Jose look like an aberration. They’re still mathematically in the playoff hunt, and a real danger to ruin somebody’s season one way or the other. How the defense fares without Cory Gibbs will be something to keep an eye on.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Beat Chivas USA, 3-2 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19145">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday vs. New England (4 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five:</strong> TWWLW</li></ul> |
<strong>15</strong> |
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<strong>13</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newengland_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Benny Feilhaber has been one of the league’s best players over the past two months, expending incredible energy on both sides of the ball. The rest of the team ... maybe not so much. New England have plenty of offensive building blocks for 2012, but their defense is a total mess.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Portland, 3-0 <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=18640">(</a><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19112">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday at Chicago (4 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>TTTWL</li></ul> |
<strong>16</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>16</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chivas_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>Even up a man, even with numerous breakaways, the Rojiblancos just couldn’t get it done against Chicago. The remainder of this season should be about figuring out who fits around Nick LaBrocca and building upon that. Finding a bit more defensive depth wouldn’t hurt, either.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Chicago, 3-2 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19145">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Toronto (10:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>TLLLL</li></ul> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<img alt="" height="55" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sanjose_150.png" width="55"> |
<p>The Quakes were actually pretty good against Houston, coming out and attacking for 90 minutes but generally lacking that one guy who could open up play. Basically, they never replaced Geovanni from last year – his stats may not have been awe-inspiring, but his effect was measured in wins.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at Houston, 2-1 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19187">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesdayat Portland (10:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>LLTWL</li></ul> |
<strong>18</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>18</strong> |
<img alt="" height="58" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/vancouver_150.png" width="40"> |
<p>The ‘Caps have a bunch of nice pieces that don’t quite work together as a team. They’ll have plenty of chances to give themselves a make-over this offseason, keeping the building blocks that they want and getting value for the players they will surely make available via trade.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Lost at LA, 3-0 (<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/videos?catid=1822&id=19207">HIGHLIGHTS</a>)</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Seattle (10:30 pm, <a href="https://mdl.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/secure/registerform" target="_blank">MatchDay Live</a>)</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>LLWTL</li></ul> |
