MLS is Back: Power Rankings after Matchday One
By Matt Coles
20 – San Jose Earthquakes (+2)
The Earthquakes came into the MLS is Back tournament having only taken a single point from their opening two MLS fixtures back in February and March. They doubled that tally with a staunch performance against the reigning MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders.
0-0 does not tell the entire story of the game, as the ‘Quakes were actually the better side for the majority, but an inspired performance from Sounders’ goalkeeper Stefan Frei kept them at bay for the whole 90 minutes.
Matches against Vancouver and Chicago are to come for San Jose in the re-jigged Group F, and both those fixtures present an opportunity for the ‘Quakes to get into the knockout stages of the tournament. They jump up two places and into the top 20.
Remaining Group Matches: Group F – vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (July 15, 9 pm ET), vs. Chicago Fire (July 19, 8 pm ET)
19 – Montreal Impact (=)
It was powerful off the field from head coach Thierry Henry, but unfortunately for the Impact, that did not translate into powerful football on the field, as they lost out in their opening group match of the MLS is Back tournament.
The French coach knelt for the opening eight minutes and 46 seconds of their match against the New England Revolution, in honour of George Floyd. However, his side were unable to find the back of the net, thanks to Matt Turner in the Revs goal.
The Impact now go into a crunch match with Canadian rivals Toronto FC knowing that realistically, they have to get something out of the game to have any chance of making it through to the knockout stages of this tournament.
Remaining Group Matches: Group B – vs. Toronto FC (July 16, 8 pm ET), vs. D.C. United (July 21, 10:30 pm ET)
18 – Orlando City SC (+2)
The home team move up a couple of places on this week’s Power Rankings after going top of Group A after a solid performance in the first match of the MLS is Back tournament at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports.
They played right through to the end and the Lions’ Portuguese Designated Player Nani was on hand to finish the game off with a 97th-minute strike, as they fought back from a goal down to defeat Inter Miami.
Orlando are now arguably favourites to go through alongside Philadelphia Union, with NYCFC playing so poorly, and they face the Sky Blues next up on July 14, knowing a win would almost seal qualification through to the knockout stages.
Remaining Group Matches: Group A – vs. New York City (July 14, 8 pm ET), vs. Philadelphia Union (July 20, 8 pm ET)
17 – New York City FC (-10)
Plummeting down the Power Rankings are last year’s Eastern Conference winners, New York City FC, who drop ten places to sit at No.17 after an abysmal start to the 2020 campaign. Three games, three defeats, no goals scored.
New head coach Ronny Deila has been unable to get anything out of his players so far this year, and that continued in their opening group game against Philadelphia Union, who only needed a single goal to take the three points.
They had chances to equalise, but poor finishing and some late heroics from Union ‘keeper Andre Blake kept them out. That is now 270 minutes without a goal so far in 2020, and if that continues, NYCFC will be on the first flight out of Orlando.
Remaining Group Matches: Group A – vs. Orlando City (July 14, 8 pm ET), vs. Inter Miami (July 20, 9 am ET)
16 – Houston Dynamo (=)
The Dynamo scored three times, but could only come away with a point from their opening MLS is Back group match, as they allowed Los Angeles FC to recover from a two-goal deficit. For that reason, they remain the No.16 side on our Power Rankings after the first round of matches.
A Memo Rodriguez double and a strike from Alberth Elis five minutes into first-half stoppage time had given the Dynamo a 3-1 lead at the break, but they allowed the reigning Supporters’ Shield holders to score twice in seven second-half minutes.
Goals from Diego Rossi and Brian Rodriguez brought the Black and Gold level, meaning Houston could only take a point from their opening fixture. They face Portland in their second match, knowing a win could take them top of the group and into pole position for automatic qualification.
Remaining Group Matches: Group F – vs. Portland Timbers (July 18, 8 pm ET), vs. LA Galaxy (July 23, 8 pm ET)