MLS: Week 7 Power Rankings – The Watchability Scores

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8. Columbus Crew – The Columbus Crew had the better chances, and in a higher quantity, but the finishing quality was horrendous. Goalmouth scrambles and close-range rockets that smashed against the crossbar happen, occasionally. The Crew will need more end product away from home to trouble the top MLS teams.

7. Houston Dynamo – Alberth Elis continues his wonderful start to the season for the Houston Dynamo. Tomas Martinez was assisted by Mauro Manotas to settle the affair, but Elis kept San Jose’s defenders occupied throughout the game. Houston saw less of the ball and were less accurate with their passes. However, those that did connect were dangerous, and an Elis movement was consistently a part of the opening of space for others. Houston should have won more comfortably, hitting a post and missing a penalty. An off day against a lowly team, and still got the result. That’s a sign of a dangerous team.

6. FC Dallas – Matt Hedges and Paxton Pomykal were national-team quality superb. Reggie Cannon, Michael Barrios, and Jesus Ferreira tilted the talent advantage ever so slightly towards FC Dallas in the 2-1 win over Portland. There were some late nerves when holding off a desperate Timbers surge forward, but the youngest team in MLS showed once again they could keep their heads and see out a professional win.

5. LA Galaxy – All of the positives during the game led to three points for the LA Galaxy. the second half, however, displeased Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who wants championship-level performance at all times. Lions do not coast after tasting an appetizer, they go for the full feast:

"“First half I thought was amazing. We had rhythm, we were aggressive, we had possession, we were direct. We said at halftime, we go out to kill, to score 3-0 or 4-0, and keep going. After two seconds we almost conceded one goal, so either everybody wasn’t on the same side or we relaxed, and that cannot happen, because when you go out and relax, you get punished. And when you get punished, it’s difficult to come back. Lucky we were 2-up this time, but this cannot happen. We cannot relax like this, and we have to keep going.”"

4. D.C. United – It takes a few ugly road wins to push for a Supporters’ Shield. D.C. United got their second road win of the year without several key players. It was more of a shootout than Ben Olsen prefers, but United are coming down the mountain with a 3-2 win. Once Luciano Acosta decided to be the best player on the field that he was, D.C. started scoring immediately. Acosta broke the Rapids’ spirit to equalize, then Chris Durkin opened his season’s account for the lead. Lucas Rodriguez provided the necessary cushion to seal the win in the second half.

3. Sporting KC – The Champions League run ended a couple of goals worse than expected for Sporting Kansas City. But reaching the final was always unlikely. Sporting KC fielded a strong side against the Red Bulls, earning a late 2-2 result. Gianluca Busio continues to stand where goals will find him, and he has capitalized for three games running. Johnny Russell is an MLS version of a pitbull that makes other teams cross the street. He had free reign of his attacking wing and served up several chances that were wasted. In fact, Sporting KC started wasting golden chances at points within the first minute and continued through the final whistle.

2. Seattle Sounders – The Seattle Sounders have an eye on the best points total in club history. In a budding East-West rivalry born from MLS Cup Finals, the Sounders ran out 3-2 winners over Toronto. Will Bruin and Brad Davis showed the old vets can step in for stars like Raul Ruidiaz, while Jordan Morris is back to full health, with much of the offense going through his feet. The Sounders will face LAFC twice in the next few weeks. Statement game reactions will echo in the Puget Sound. Until then, I’ll maintain the status quo in the top 2 MLS Power Rankings spots.

1. LAFC – Fans and foes alike are in wonder watching Carlos Vela put on a clinic and film an MLS highlight tape at the same time. It’s hard to identify a weakness in Bob Bradley’s Los Angeles FC, which has only allowed five goals in seven games. Two games against the Seattle Sounders loom in April. LAFC’s team and traveling support are in peak form for their biggest early-season questions. All judgements are reserved until those duels are in the books.

Check back next week for the Week 8 MLS Power Rankings.