MLS: Week 2 Power Rankings

MLS, LAFC, Carlos Vela — LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 10: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC celebrates his goal during Los Angeles FC’s MLS match against Portland Timbers at the Banc of California Stadium on March 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.Los Angeles FC won the match 4-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)

In honor of the start of March Madness, this week’s MLS Power Rankings will review the teams as game brackets. Here are the Week 2 MLS Power Rankings.

March Madness branding for Major League Soccer might bring letters from NCAA marketing and licensing infringement orders to league headquarters, so other names for the early MLS action will need a brainstorming session. Twitter submissions welcome, just don’t be as bland as an Adidas jersey.

March Madness is the great ending to one of the best tournaments in sports. March for MLS teams means finding comfort levels in actual games and hopefully early points. Some teams are allowed early-season hiccups, while other fanbases expect results consistently and immediately.

MLS Week 2 has some statement games from the league’s contenders. Several others are left with more questions than goals scored on the season. Did your team make a statement or look befuddled after the match?

Here are the Week 2 Power Rankings, with a March Madness tinge.

Toronto FC (15) and the New York Red Bulls (4) had the weekend off.

ATLANTA, GA MARCH 10: Cincinnati’s Roland Lamah (7) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the MLS match between FC Cincinnati and Atlanta United FC on March 10th, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Newcomer Vs Reigning Champ

FC Cinncinatti (24) traveled to Atlanta United (9) looking for at least another road goal highlight. FC Cinncinati fans got ever more than they bargained for, earning the team’s first MLS point. FC Cincinnati leave Atlanta feeling like they won a playoff game, especially considering that wonderful atmosphere. Kenneth Saief, it seems, was a good Front Office response to Fernando Adi’s attacking talent worries.

Atlanta fans likely left the stadium feeling almost as worse as when that first season ended in the playoffs. There was no cup win but only hope and optimism going into their second season. Now two games into year three, Atlanta lifted a banner before the game, then spent a good portion of the match showing all the ways this team will fall short of last year’s glory. Frank de Boer has a longer leash than just a few games, but the fans are becoming agitated.

Does de Boer sacrifice his formation or the players? The Brek Shea experiment looks to be a dead end, Leonardo Gonzalez Pirez has been left out to dry, and the attack looks to bottleneck at times. Will FC Cincinnati be more of a nuisance to the established teams in the East? They have some top-end talent worthy of a playoff chase.