MLS is Back: Power Rankings after Matchday Two
By Matt Coles
20 – New York City FC (-3)
Four matches in 2020, four defeats and not a single point on the board. New York City FC are struggling, and their plummet down the Power Rankings continued, having started the season as a top-five team after winning the Eastern Conference last year.
The only positive for the Sky Blues is that they scored their first goal of the campaign, with Jesus Medina netting in the 38th minute of their clash with Orlando City on Tuesday evening. However, that was the only positive.
NYCFC now need a lot to go their way if they are to make it through to the knockout stages as one of the wild-card teams, with four places up for grabs. However, beating Inter Miami is the first hurdle, and that does not look likely at the moment.
Remaining Group Matches: Group A – vs. Inter Miami (July 20, 9 am ET)
19 – Chicago Fire (-2)
When you take down the reigning MLS Cup champions, you make a solid move up the Power Rankings. Simple as that! That’s exactly what the Chicago Fire did on Tuesday morning, as they got revenge for their opening day defeat to the Seattle Sounders.
They lost 2-1 to the Rave Green on March 1, but goals from Robert Beric and Mauricio Pineda saw them reverse that scoreline in their first game back after the break, as they moved into a commanding position in Group B.
A victory against the Earthquakes in the second group game could well be enough for them to qualify for the knockout stages of MLS is Back, something not many would have predicted at the start of the tournament.
Remaining Group Matches: Group B – vs. San Jose Earthquakes (July 19, 8 pm ET), vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (July 23, 9 am ET)
18 – Houston Dynamo (-2)
A win would have put the Houston Dynamo in the driving seat in Group F, but they fell to defeat against Portland Timbers and now have an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages of the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando.
The Dynamo went behind in the second half through a Jeremy Ebobisse strike, with 2015 Major League Soccer MVP Diego Valeri doubling that lead on the hour mark. Houston pulled one back through Alberth Elis but the Honduran forward was sent off just two minutes later after receiving two yellow cards in as many minutes.
The Dynamo’s destiny is in their own hands in many ways, as they have to win against the Galaxy on July 23 to have a chance of making it through to the knockout stages but without their main attacking option, it could be a struggle.
Remaining Group Matches: Group F – vs. LA Galaxy (July 23, 8 pm ET)
17 – San Jose Earthquakes (+3)
It looked bleak through 70 minutes against the Vancouver Whitecaps, but the San Jose Earthquakes fought their way back to take the win, thanks to three goals in the final 25 minutes of their Group B clash.
The ‘Quakes now have five points from four games to start 2020, including two matches at the beginning of the regular season, but they remain outside the top seven in the Western Conference.
Goals from Chris Wondolowski, Oswaldo Alanis and Shea Salinas gave the victory, as they came from two goals down to win 4-3 in the final minute of stoppage time. Qualification from the group is in their own hands. A win against Chicago in their final group match and they will top the group.
Remaining Group Matches: Group B – vs. Chicago Fire (July 19, 8 pm ET)
16 – LA Galaxy (-5)
The LA Galaxy remain at the bottom of Group F following the second round of group matches after being destroyed by cross-city rivals Los Angeles FC in ‘El Trafico’, as the Black and Gold put six past them in Orlando.
The five-time MLS Cup winners took the lead twice in the first half, firstly through an own goal in the fifth minute, before a Cristian Pavon penalty kick on the half-hour mark. Diego Rossi scored for LAFC in between, before bagging a second in first-half stoppage time to draw the game level at 2-2 at the break.
However, the second half went away from the Galaxy in a big way, with LAFC scoring four goals, Rossi grabbing a further two to take his tally to four for the night, as they won out 6-2. The Galaxy have now conceded eight goals in two matches and sit bottom of the Group F standings. They need something of a minor miracle if they are to make it through to the knockout stages.
Remaining Group Matches: Group F – vs. Houston Dynamo (July 23, 8 pm ET)