MLS: Week 25 Power Rankings – Rise of the Sounders
MLS continued at the weekend with a series of fascinating and surprising results, including a huge win for the Seattle Sounders. So, here are the Week 25 MLS Power Rankings.
It was another intriguing week of MLS action. Big wins for the Seattle Sounders and Sporting KC in the West. Atlanta United strengthening their grip on the East. Wayne Rooney and D.C. United continuing their charge up the standings.
MLS is certainly hotting up as we enter the final stretch. Teams are scrapping for their playoff lives. It makes every match that much more important, with each and every point a precious commodity.
Related Story. MLS: Week 24 Power Rankings. light
And so, in this context of desperation and late surges, here are the Week 25 MLS Power Rankings.
Bottom of the Barrel
327. Players — Will Johnson on this occasion — and coach O’Connor alike are saying all the right things: they want to ‘fix things’. They know they have work to do. They need to improve defensively, starting against Atlanta. But it’s also the story of their season. Shutouts have been rare, as have points lately. The playoffs likely prove elusive once again. Signing Carlos Ascues to shore up the defense is too little too late, but at least the Lions might finish in a respectable position in the table. No danger of the Wooden Spoon is the only positive at this point.. 7-15-2. Previous: 21st. Orlando City SC. 21. team
20. team. 337. Nothing says undeserving and lack of focus like giving up multiple goals in stoppage time. Both are true of this year’s Dynamo. For non-Houston fans, one stat tells the story of the season: Houston have dropped points in eight of the 24 games by conceding goals after the 80th minute. A home loss in the U.S. Open Cup final would likely be a fatal blow to the season, if not some jobs.. 7-7-10. Previous: 18th. Houston Dynamo
6-12-6. Previous: 20th. Colorado Rapids. 19. team. 368. Deklan Wynne keeps getting starts, and continues to get beat with the most basic of passing sequences. When he needs to stop the ball, he is backpedaling. When he needs to keep both attackers in front of him, he charges at the ball and is beaten by simple give-and-go moves. With him at the back, the Rapids would leak goals even with peak-Howard. Moreover, with McBean wasting chances up front, the Rapids lack the quality and end product to threaten most teams. LAFC kept Edgar Castillo pinned back, further stifling the normal avenues of the Rapids’ attack. The midfield core looked decent, even in a loss, but this Rapids squad needs several new non-Hudson signings to really compete.
Previous: 15th. New England Revolution. 17. team. 372. The Revs record of late (0-5-2) lends credence to the arguments that Brad Freidel’s tactics have been found out, and that the jettisoning the best attacking talent in favor of workhorse types and rah-rah speeches only works for so long. The Revs seemed out of ideas once they crossed midfield and the early-season adrenaline to impress the new manager has dissipated. In order to make the playoffs in his first season, Freidel will now need to formulate a more nuanced attacking approach that is able to beat teams with greater talent.. 8-12-4
377. Road points are usually welcomed, but Toronto FC needs wins, especially against the worst team in the league. Up next is a visit from fellow Canadian playoff hopeful, Montreal Impact. Alex Bono has fallen off since signing that extension and the backline was prodded and stretched all game long. Their playoff chances are on thin ice, as well. Altidore, Giovinco, and Mavinga have all missed games due to red cards or yellow card accumulation, so the situation cannot be blamed solely on CCL scheduling and Greg Vanney’s rotation choices. Nevertheless, they have dug themselves a rather big hole.. 6-12-6. Previous: 17th. Toronto FC. 16. team