MLS: Week 8 power rankings – New York City FC drops, Atlanta rises

Toronto FC. 8. team. 377. Another reserve filled squad loses an away game that would have been tough with the first team. It is hard to see TFC contending for the Shield dropping this many early season points. Jordan Hamilton and Liam Fraser look ready to contribute to the first team’s depth. Ager Aketxe seems a sullen waste of money being played to raise his trade value and he has not obliged by playing well. TFC is getting plenty of players evaluated in these games, and not many are making the grade.. 1-0-4. Previous: 4th

Previous: 15th. FC Dallas. 7. team. 370. FC Dallas is holding clean sheets against top MLS teams and finding some goals along the way. After last season’s collapse, getting back to the top has been a steep hill to climb. Being the last undefeated team in the league is just one sign that Oscar Pareja has the Hoops ready to contend again. Diaz, Colman and Urruti still have yet to play together for any substantial amount of time.. 3-3-0

New York Red Bulls. 6. team. 373. After looking invincible at home all year, the Red Bulls attack finally went steer save for the obligatory Wright-Phillips goal. On some days all it takes to lose is one bad play by a keeper to gift a penalty, as Luis Robles obliged. That he did so after Katai’s golazo all but assured the Red Bulls of their first home loss in MLS this season.. 3-0-3. Previous: 3rd

4-2-1. Previous: 8th. Orlando City SC. 5. team. 327. After bumpy start seemingly caused by Jason Kreis’ insistence on a diamond midfield, he has changed the tactics and this Lions side has found its killer stride. Now on a four-game winning streak, the Lions no longer have expectations of merely making the MLS Cup playoffs, they expect to advance. Meram, Sacha, and Dwyer were the big names this offseason. Chris Mueller is arguably the player most responsible for the great results.

349. NYCFC lost to a desperate Timbers team coming off 3 games in 10 days, including that exhausting tie in Atlanta. Vieira is on record priotizing squad rotation after blaming Tajouri’s injury on being over worked. Role players like Rodney Wallace will need to be better for this team to not lose more points through summer.. 5-2-1. Previous: 1st. New York City FC. 3. team