MLS is Back: Power Rankings after the group stages
By Matt Coles
20. Colorado Rapids (-5)
After coming into the MLS is Back tournament with a 100% record, things have gone badly in Orlando for the Colorado Rapids, who managed to pick up just a single point, with that coming in their final group game against Minnesota United on Wednesday evening.
Colorado already knew that their fate had been sealed going into the final match of the group, with no chance of making it into the top three to have a shot at a wild-card place, but they came out firing, with Kei Kamara opening the scoring.
A double for Ethan Finlay put Minnesota in front, but a 59th-minute equaliser from Jonathan Lewis saw the game finish 2-2, giving Colorado their only point of the tournament. The positives to come from this event is that the Rapids remain inside the top seven in the Western Conference, but they have a lot of issues to sort if that is to stay the same when the regular-season gets going again.
19. FC Cincinnati (+4)
The Orange and Blue lost their first group game 4-0. No-one would have them backed them to defeat Atlanta United and New York Red Bulls in back-to-back matches, but they have done, and a 2-0 win over the latter sees them safely through to the last 16 in Orlando.
The Bulls had all the possession, all the shots, and attempted more than 50 crosses on goal, but they could not find the back of the net. Instead, a 43rd-minute strike from FC Cincinnati striker Yuya Kubo gave them an advantage they would not lose. A Florian Valot own goal in the second half made things more comfortable.
After surprising the league by qualifying, FC Cincinnati will now do battle with the Portland Timbers, who topped Group F. It is the last match of the round of 16, so FC Cincinnati will have plenty of time to work out their plans before attempting to cause another shock in Orlando.
Last 16 Fixture: v Portland Timbers (July 28, 10:30 pm ET)
18. Vancouver Whitecaps (+4)
After losing their first group game to San Jose, the Vancouver Whitecaps lost out to Seattle in their second group game, this time in more convincing fashion. Goals from Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz condemned Vancouver to a 3-0 defeat, and it left them needing a two-goal victory over Chicago in their final Group B match.
That is exactly what they got, winning 2-0 thanks to a wonderful six-minutes spell which saw them strike twice just after the first rain delay of the tournament. Yordy Reyna made a great impact as a substitute, firstly scoring the opener, before then setting up Cristian Dajome to make it a two-goal lead.
That margin of victory saw them creep above the Fire and into third in Group B, which sees them qualify for the knockout stages as the third-best wild-card team. They will face Sporting Kansas City, who finished top of Group D, in a late-game on July 26, kicking off at 11 pm.
Last 16 Fixture: v Sporting Kansas City (July 26, 11 pm ET)
17. Montreal Impact (+4)
Thierry Henry’s men kept their chances of reaching the knockout stages of MLS is Back alive on Tuesday night as they defeated D.C. United to move above the side from the capital in the standings and into a vital third place.
Once again, Saphir Taider was the man to come up with the goods for the Montreal Impact, with his deflected shot finding the back of the net on the half-hour mark. That goal was good enough for the three points for Montreal, their first of the tournament.
It was also good enough to see the side through to the knockout stages of the competition as the second-best wild-card team. They will now face Orlando City, who came through as Group A winners and are unbeaten in the tournament so far.
Last 16 Fixture: v Orlando City (July 25, 8 pm ET)
16. New York City FC (+4)
It has taken five games, but New York City FC finally have their first points in Major League Soccer under new head coach Ronny Deila following a less-than-convincing 1-0 victory over expansion side Inter Miami.
It took 64 minutes until the deadlock was broken, with Ismael Tajouri-Shradi finding the net for the only goal of the game. It is only their second goal of the tournament, but it gave them their first points in 2020.
The Sky Blues made it through at the expense of the Red Bulls as the fourth and final wild-card side, and they will now face 2017 MLS Cup champions Toronto FC in the last 16 of the tournament on Sunday evening.
Last 16 Fixture: v Toronto FC (July 26, 8:30pm ET)