MLS Power Rankings, Week 3: New York Red Bulls make a jump behind Atlantic Cup win

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<strong>1</strong>

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<p>They aren&#39;t humming along like a well-oiled machine just yet, but they keep piling up points. It&#39;ll be interesting to see what tweaks Oscar Pareja makes in the coming weeks to get Mauro Diaz more involved.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-philadelphia-union-vs-fc-dallas" target="_blank">Won at Philadelphia, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. Seattle&nbsp;(8:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>2</strong>

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<p>Struggled to connect through the middle and quite honestly didn&#39;t move the ball quickly enough. The Galaxy are always methodical, and this past weekend it was to their detriment.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-la-galaxy-vs-houston-dynamo" target="_blank">Drew vs. Houston, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at D.C. United (7 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>3</strong>

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<p>It&#39;s too early in the season for a game to be HUGE, but &ndash; to use the parlance of the day &ndash;&nbsp;it&#39;s clear that this Saturday&#39;s trip to Dallas is a benchmark for both teams.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>OFF</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Dallas&nbsp;(8:30 pm;&nbsp;<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/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 6</p>

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<p>If you take six points from a two-game road trip, you move up in the Power Rankings. Even if you didn&#39;t look particularly great doing it.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-orlando-city-sc-vs-vancouver-whitecaps-fc" target="_blank">Won at Orlando City, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. Portland (8 pm;&nbsp;<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: 4</p>

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<p>Bumped down a notch because of Vancouver&#39;s climb. Stop freaking out in the comments section.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>OFF</li><li><strong>This Game:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. New York&nbsp;(7:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>6</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:: 5</p>

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<p>Seriously. Stop.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>OFF</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Sunday at Real Salt Lake&nbsp;(7 pm, FOX Sports, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO)</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: 10</p>

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<p>Put together the strongest first half of any team this season, simply dominating a good (we think) D.C. team. That midfield triangle of Dax McCarty, Felipe and Sacha Kljestan bossed the entire game.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-22-new-york-red-bulls-vs-dc-united" target="_blank">Won vs. D.C. United, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Columbus (7:30 pm;&nbsp;<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/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 8</p>

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<p>Hopefully they&#39;ll have used the bye week to work out some of the kinks in that 4-3-3. Especially on defense.</p><ul><li><b>Last Week:&nbsp;</b>OFF</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Sunday vs. Toronto (7 pm, FOX Sports, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO)</li></ul>

<strong>9</strong>

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<p>Not sure what to make of this team yet&nbsp;&ndash; it&#39;s hard to ignore the disorganization in central midfield and uneven play on the flanks. But it&#39;s harder still to ignore six points from their last two games, so here they are at No. 9.</p><ul><li><b>Last Week:&nbsp;</b><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-22-san-jose-earthquakes-vs-chicago-fire" target="_blank">Won vs. Chicago, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at New England (3 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>10</strong>

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<p>As Jason Kreis said, a road point is always acceptable. The performance from both teams, however, was something less than stellar.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-colorado-rapids-vs-new-york-city-fc" target="_blank">Drew at Colorado, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. Sporting KC&nbsp;(7 pm;&nbsp;<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: 7</p>

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<p>Were only occasionally threatening, though they did earn a late PK. United were at their best last season when Fabian Espindola and Luis Silva were starting together. With neither in the lineup, they&#39;ve been punchless.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-22-new-york-red-bulls-vs-dc-united" target="_blank">Lost at New York, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. LA (7 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>12</strong>

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<p>Found a bit of midfield balance by playing Benny Feilhaber deep, but poor Dom Dwyer is on an island all by himself up top. Sporting don&#39;t seem to have many ideas, but at least the defense stopped leaking.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-sporting-kansas-city-vs-portland-timbers" target="_blank">Drew vs. Portland, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at NYCFC (7 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>13</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: 12</p>

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<p>Holding on for draws is the name of the game for this team in March. They just need to stay afloat until Diego Valeri and Will Johnson get back.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-sporting-kansas-city-vs-portland-timbers" target="_blank">Drew at Sporting KC, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Vancouver&nbsp;(8 pm;&nbsp;<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="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>Through three games they&#39;ve got two goals: one off a deflected free kick, and the other off a horrible goalkeeping gaffe. Having Kak&aacute; go 1-vs-5 with the ball is occasionally an acceptable tactic; having Kevin Molino try the same never is. OCSC&#39;s attack needs sorting out.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-orlando-city-sc-vs-vancouver-whitecaps-fc" target="_blank">Lost vs. Vancouver, 1-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Montreal (4 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>15</strong>

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<p>They are not pretty, but they have now taken two very acceptable results from two of the best teams in MLS (Columbus in Wk. 1, LA this past weekend). The Power Rankings Politburo commends Houston on their pragmatism.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-la-galaxy-vs-houston-dynamo" target="_blank">Drew at LA, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Saturday vs. Colorado&nbsp;(8:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>16</strong>

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<p>Their regular-season goal-less streak is now over 300 minutes, and they simply aren&#39;t turning possession into chances. It&#39;s probably time to give Charlie Davies a start and let Juan Agudelo try to figure things out from the sidelines for a bit.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-new-england-revolution-vs-montreal-impact" target="_blank">Drew vs. Montreal, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Saturday vs. San Jose (3 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<strong>17</strong>

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<p>Road point, but this one felt like a loss thanks to that Cameron Porter injury. The Impact are cursed with long-term health woes early in this season.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-new-england-revolution-vs-montreal-impact" target="_blank">Drew vs. New England, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Saturday vs. Orlando City (4 pm; <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/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: 15</p>

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<p>They were arguably the better team through the first 40 minutes, before Zach Pfeffer&#39;s red card. Totally fell apart afterward, and are now on just two points from three games. Union fans are already on the edge.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-philadelphia-union-vs-fc-dallas" target="_blank">Lost vs. Dallas, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Sunday at Chicago (5 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN)</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>They&#39;ve gone seven hours without scoring in MLS. Nothing is working in attack, but at least the defense isn&#39;t the sieve it was last year, and Clint Irwin has bounced back with two very good games.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-21-colorado-rapids-vs-new-york-city-fc" target="_blank">Drew vs. NYCFC, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Houston (8:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>

<b>20</b>

<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 20</p>

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<p>Controlled a lot of the game against San Jose and used the ball well to create some chances. Still... the record is what it is. It&#39;s not even April yet and the Fire are already behind the eight-ball.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-03-22-san-jose-earthquakes-vs-chicago-fire" target="_blank">Lost vs. San Jose, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Sunday vs. Philadelphia&nbsp;(5 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN)</li></ul>