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MLS: Week 26 Power Rankings – Storming Seattle Sounders

By Christopher Dodson

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 15: Josef Martinez #7 of Atlanta United prior to their game against the Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 15: Josef Martinez #7 of Atlanta United prior to their game against the Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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Vancouver Whitecaps
VANCOUVER, BC – JULY 07: Alphonso Davies #67 of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC (left) reacts after Kei Kamara #23 of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC scores against the Chicago Fire at BC Place on July 7, 2018 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Christopher Morris – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) /

Middle of the Road

10-14-3. Previous: 13th. Montreal Impact. 16. team. 371. The scoreline flatters Toronto FC, but the standings in the table flatter Montreal. The Impact have nothing in attack unless Ignacio Piatti is afforded space and his team can get him the ball. As the playoff race intensifies, Piatti is being marked even tighter and his less talented teammates pressured more. Without that pressure unearthing a new diamond in the midfield, Montreal’s season will not be going forward.

7-10-6. Previous: 14th. D.C. United. 15. team. 369. The Screaming Eagles were always hoping to have a chance when they entered the new stadium. D.C. United went on a great run of wins before the 1-0 loss to NYRB tempered expectations. Ben Olsen’s squad can still make a run, but face Philadelphia and Atlanta this week. Both teams are playing for their seasons’ as well and the adrenaline rush might have ended for D.C.. Having Bill Hamid back has helped steady the backline, but United still has to prove it can attack effectively and consistently. Without that great Wayne Rooney highlight tackle and assist in the dying moments, the season is likely already dead. A team can only come back from the brink so many times in a season.

Previous: 16th. Toronto FC. 14. team. 377. With three goals in the first half, Toronto FC eased into victory in the second half. The win was crucial to keep Toronto’s playoff chances alive. Osorio and Giovinco were linking up early and often, leading to the first two goals and, while Toronto were only able to get six shots off, five were on target. Alex Bono made five saves but saw 16 shots total come from Montreal attackers. Better teams would have punished Toronto. Will Toronto have the chance to prove otherwise and defend their MLS Cup crown? Only four points from the bottom of the Eastern Conference table, their next four games are against Portland, LAFC, NYRB, and LA Galaxy.. 7-12-6

11-11-3. Previous: 12th. Philadelphia Union. 12. team. 374. Andre Blake is now in every writer’s ballot Top 5 for Keeper of the Year. The Union’s recent run of form would have been impossible without Blake’s quality and composure serving the foundation. Cory Burke capitalized on shoddy, lazy defending to bag the lone goal, but full points earned looks the same in the standings as any other win. The Union are accumulating quite a run of wins lately, now with four in their last five.

The long streak of points seems like a lifetime ago. Four losses on the trot have Portland’s season in doubt. After the heartbreaking own goal 1-0 loss to Seattle, the Timbers are below both the playoff line and the Sounders for the first time since Providence Park opened. Portland has games in hand over most of the Western Conference, but the playoff race is tight. Third to eighth is separated by six points. Portland face the defending champs in a midweek game. Lose and the Timbers will be teetering on the brink of elimination.. 10-7-7. Previous: 6th. Portland Timbers. 11. team. 375

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