Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff; words by Jonathan Sigal.
BIGGEST MOVERS: COL +6; PHI, DC -4
1
LAST WEEK: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 1
The Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan show showed up in Week 1, powering a come-from-behind win over Chicago at home. It was a solid rebound from their Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 exit against Olimpia last week, all without influential midfielders Nicolas Lodeiro and Gustav Svensson.
Previous: 2-1 win vs. CHI | Next: vs. CLB on 3/7
2
LAST WEEK: 2
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 2
If you’re still watching Carlos Vela’s wondrous chip of Luis Robles, we don’t blame you. That spoiled the expansion party for Inter Miami CF, and kept the Black-and-Gold rolling after their Concacaf Champions League TKO of Club Leon.
Previous: 1-0 win vs. MIA | Next: vs. PHI on 3/8
3
LAST WEEK: 4
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 4
That pit-in-your stomach feeling about Josef Martinez tearing his ACL? That might not go away anytime soon, sadly, as the Five Stripes emerge from a solid win at newcomers Nashville SC over the weekend.
Previous: 2-1 win at NSH | Next: vs. CIN on 3/7
4
LAST WEEK: 3
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 4
An early Maxime Chanot red card Sunday led to defeat in Columbus, though playing 87 minutes down a man will hardly be indicative of their true colors under new head coach Ronny Deila. The chance to rebound arrives quickly via a rematch of last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs exit at the hands of Toronto FC.
Previous: 1-0 loss at CLB | Next: at TOR on 3/7
5
LAST WEEK: 8
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 8
Rumor has it Minnesota’s counterattack is still revving up at Providence Park. Decisive plays by Luis Amarilla, Ethan Finlay and Kevin Molino see the Loons vault up three spots in the politburo’s eyes.
Previous: 3-1 win at POR | Next: at SJ on 3/7
6
LAST WEEK: 5
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 6
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, as they say. Allowing a late, stoppage-time equalizer against San Jose sure stings, though last year’s MLS Cup runner-up can take solace in how they looked without an injured Michael Bradley.
Previous: 2-2 draw at SJ | Next: vs. NYC on 3/7
7
LAST WEEK: 10
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 10
Paxton Pomykal is back from injury, scoring crucial goals for his hometown club and sporting a wild mustache. There was far more to FCD’s win over Philly last weekend, but year No. 2 under Luchi Gonzalez is nonetheless off to a solid start.
Previous: 2-0 win vs. PHI | Next: vs. MTL on 3/7
8
LAST WEEK: 6
HIGH: 6 | LOW: 8
Chicharito sputtered out of the gate, though LA still secured a draw in H-Town thanks to a Cristian Pavon golazo and goalkeeper David Bingham doing his best Ederson impression. But the Galaxy were bossed in midfield at times, with the absence of Jonathan dos Santos visibly apparent.
Previous: 1-1 draw at HOU | Next: vs. VAN on 3/7
9
LAST WEEK: 9
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 9
Take a bow, Lucas Zelarayan. The Crew’s new No. 10 opened his MLS account in style last weekend, supplying the game-winner via a left-footed curler against NYCFC. More of that, please.
Previous: 1-0 win vs. NYC | Next: at SEA on 3/7
10
LAST WEEK: 16
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 16
Anyone who had “92nd minute game-winner from Jonathan Lewis” can step up and collect their prize. The Rapids were quietly impressive in their Week 1 comeback win at D.C. United, so Robin Fraser’s group makes a sizable jump up the rankings this week.
Previous: 2-1 win at DC | Next: vs. ORL on 3/7
11
LAST WEEK: 7
HIGH: 7 | LOW: 11
The Union’s finishing boots were MIA, though they held their own for large stretches in Frisco. Perhaps we’ll see the debut of midfielders Jose Andres Martinez or Matej Oravec in Philly’s trip to the Banc this weekend.
Previous: 2-0 loss at DAL | Next: at LAFC on 3/8
12
LAST WEEK: 15
HIGH: 12 | LOW: 15
After lengthy injury layoffs in recent years, Florian Valot and Kyle Duncan were both awesome for RBNY in their home-opener win over FC Cincy. They’ll need to be more buttoned up defensively, but Chris Armas’ team looks better off than previously thought in preseason.
Previous: 3-2 win vs. CIN | Next: at RSL on 3/7
13
LAST WEEK: 18
HIGH: 13 | LOW: 18
Last weekend’s trip to Vancouver was a resounding success, especially considering newcomers Gadi Kinda and Alan Pulido got on the scoresheet. After a pretty rough 2019, better days – at least for now – seem to be returning to SKC.
Previous: 3-1 win at VAN | Next: vs. HOU on 3/7
14
LAST WEEK: 11
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 14
Well, that wasn’t how head coach Giovanni Savarese drew it up. The Timbers were ransacked on their home field by Minnesota, and newcomers Felipe Mora and Yimmi Chara were absent from the debutant goals party that shaped much of Week 1 in MLS.
Previous: 3-1 loss vs. MIN | Next: vs. NSH on 3/8
15
LAST WEEK: 12
HIGH: 12 | LOW: 15
The margins in MLS are often quite small, with New England seeming to find a late game-winner via Wilfried Zahibo. But his bundled-home finish was waived off after Video Review. Factor in the absence of Carles Gil (ankle) and Tajon Buchanan heading a golden opportunity off the post, and frustration shaped the Revolution in Week 1.
Previous: 2-1 loss at MTL | Next: vs. CHI on 3/7
16
LAST WEEK: 13
HIGH: 13 | LOW: 16
Could RSL have earned more than a scoreless draw from last weekend’s trip to Orlando City? Sure, but a point on the road in MLS is generally viewed as a solid result – even if the visitor’s offense was pretty meh.
Previous: 0-0 draw at ORL | Next: vs. RBNY on 3/7
17
LAST WEEK: 21
HIGH: 17 | LOW: 21
Maxi Urruti pulled out his chipping wedge, Thierry Henry set his XI uber-defensive and Montreal kept their Concacaf Champions League momentum going in Saturday's win over New England. They’re not exactly playing anyone off the pitch, but the positive results are hard to ignore.
Previous: 2-1 win vs. NE | Next: at DAL on 3/7
18
LAST WEEK: 14
HIGH: 14 | LOW: 18
The Black-and-Red were the only Eastern Conference team to lose at home in Week 1, so that’s a tough pill to swallow. There were encouraging moments from newcomers Julian Gressel and Edison Flores, but D.C. also left much to be desired at home against Colorado.
Previous: 2-1 loss vs. COL | Next: vs. MIA on 3/7
19
LAST WEEK: 17
HIGH: 17 | LOW: 19
We’ll be watching Oswaldo Alanis’ 95th minute game-tying free kick on repeat, thank you very much. That sealed a come-from-behind draw against Toronto FC, but the Quakes are now winless in seven MLS regular-season games stretching back to last season.
Previous: 2-2 draw vs. TOR | Next: vs. MIN on 3/7
20
LAST WEEK: 20
HIGH: 20 | LOW: 20
All things considered, it was a solid start for the Tab Ramos era in Houston. The Dynamo played with purpose and grit, plus were missing final-third difference-makers Alberth Elis and Darwin Quintero in the draw vs. LA.
Previous: 1-1 draw vs. LA | Next: at SKC on 3/7
21
LAST WEEK: 19
HIGH: 19 | LOW: 21
There’s a lot to like about Inter Miami’s MLS debut last weekend, even if they were a Carlos Vela golazo away from a draw vs. last year’s Supporters’ Shield winners. If Diego Alonso’s group builds off that showing, they could feasibly climb up the pecking order.
Previous: 1-0 loss at LAFC | Next: at DC on 3/7
22
LAST WEEK: 23
HIGH: 22 | LOW: 23
Without Nani and Dom Dwyer, Orlando’s attack lacked the extra oomph to turn a solid showing against RSL into three points at home. The turnaround under new head coach Oscar Pareja will likely take time, especially when factoring in all the offseason moves Orlando made this year.
Previous: 0-0 draw vs. RSL | Next: at COL on 3/7
23
LAST WEEK: 22
HIGH: 22 | LOW: 23
The Raphael Wicky era in Chicago nearly started with aplomb, though their defense couldn’t thwart a late surge from Jordan Morris and Co. That cancelled out a debut goal from Designated Player forward Robert Beric and solid first MLS game for Homegrown midfielder Mauricio Pineda.
Previous: 2-1 loss at SEA | Next: at NE on 3/7
24
LAST WEEK: 25
HIGH: 24 | LOW: 25
As much as last weekend's home opener against Atlanta was about the result, it was also about welcoming MLS to Nashville. And the Music City didn't disappoint, with nearly 60,000 fans witnessing a night to remember at Nissan Stadium. Gary Smith's group played some decent soccer, too.
Previous: 2-1 loss vs. ATL | Next: at POR on 3/8
25
LAST WEEK: 24
HIGH: 24 | LOW: 25
Featuring an XI that included three offseason signings, the Whitecaps were smashed in the mouth Saturday in a 3-1 home loss against Sporting. There were encouraging signs from marquee striker Lucas Cavallini, but the overall performance left much to be desired.
Previous: 3-1 loss vs. SKC | Next: at LA on 3/7
26
LAST WEEK: 26
HIGH: 26 | LOW: 26
It truly was a tale of two halves for Cincy, who looked lethargic for the first 45 minutes and went into halftime at Red Bull Arena lucky to be down just 2-0. If there's encouragement, it's that new DP forward Jurgen Locadia scored on his debut after being away from the squad most of last week while getting his visa.
Previous: 3-2 loss at RBNY | Next: at ATL on 3/7
