MLS: Power Rankings – Seattle on top ahead of MLS Is Back
By Matt Coles
15: D.C. United (=)
Remaining in the No.15 spot, D.C. United face a tough Group B at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando later this month.
They struggled to start with, losing out to the Colorado Rapids in their season-opening fixture, before then having to fight from behind to defeat expansion side Inter Miami to get their first points on the board in 2020.
With the likes of Edison Flores, Julian Gressel and Yamil Asad in their attacking lines, qualifying for the knockout stages of this mini-tournament is a definite possibility. Yes, they have tricky tests against 2017 treble-winners Toronto FC and an improving New England and Montreal, but then chance is there for Ben Olsen’s side to make it through to the last 16.
Group Matches: Group B – vs. Toronto FC (July 10, 8pm ET), vs. New England Revolution (July 16, 8pm ET), vs. Montreal Impact (July 21, 10:30pm ET)
14: New England Revolution (+2)
Just missing out on a spot in the top half of our Power Rankings are the New England Revolution, who are coming off the back of a first post-season berth in four years, but a disappointing start to the 2020 campaign.
The Revs could only manage a single point from their opening two fixtures of the regular-season campaign, after losing to Montreal Impact on the opening weekend. That was followed with a score draw against the struggling Chicago Fire in week two.
However, the likes of Alexander Buttner, and more importantly, Carles Gil, will return from injury after missing those first two matches, and with the likes of Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa and Diego Fagundez, this is a team that could make a splash in this tournament, despite tricky tests against D.C., Toronto, and a revenge clash against the Impact.
Group Matches: Group B – vs. Montreal Impact (July 9, 8pm ET), vs. D.C. United (July 16, 8pm ET), vs. Toronto FC (July 21, 9am ET)
13: Portland Timbers (=)
Taking the final spot in the top half of our Power Rankings is a team that held this spot following the opening two weeks of the season, the Portland Timbers.
Portland started the season with a defeat against Minnesota United, before defeating expansion side Nashville to get their first points of the regular-season campaign on the board. With the firepower of Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco and Dairon Asprilla, there are goals to be found.
However, the Timbers face one of the toughest tests in the MLS is Back tournament, as they will have to do battle against both Los Angeles sides, including last year’s record-breaking Supporters’ Shield champions LAFC, along with a clash against Houston Dynamo in between.
Group Matches: Group D – vs. LA Galaxy (July 13, 10:30pm ET), vs. Houston Dynamo (July 18, 8pm ET), vs. Los Angeles FC (July 23, 10:30pm ET)
12: Colorado Rapids (+2)
Moving up a couple of places and inside the top half of our Power Rankings are the first of just four teams who currently hold a 100% winning record in Major League Soccer so far in 2020, the Colorado Rapids.
In their first full season under new head coach, and former player, Robin Fraser, the Rapids started strongly, getting the better of D.C. United and Orlando City before the suspension of the league.
They do find themselves in the toughest group of the lot though, with tricky tests against Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United, with the latter two currently occupying the top two spots in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
Group Matches: Group C – vs. Real Salt Lake (July 12, 10:30pm ET), vs. Sporting KC (July 17, 8pm ET), vs. Minnesota United (July 22, 10:30pm ET)
11: Columbus Crew SC (+1)
Four points from their opening two matches of the 2020 regular season, and the Columbus Crew are optimistic of a post-season berth this year, after finishing in 10th in the Eastern Conference eight months ago.
They defeated New York City FC on the opening weekend, in part down to the fact the Sky Blues had to play 87 minutes with ten men, before then holding the reigning MLS Cup champions to a 1-1 draw at CenturyLink Field.
The introduction of club-record signing Lucas Zelarayan has been key, but the Crew will have to do battle with Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati, 2018 MLS Cup champions Atlanta United, and the resurgent New York Red Bulls in Group E. A good showing against those three will give the Crew real confidence going forward.
Group Matches: Group E – vs. FC Cincinnati (July 11, 10:30pm ET), vs. NY Red Bulls (July 16, 10:30pm ET), vs. Atlanta United (July 21, 8pm ET)