MLS Power Rankings: Teams falter, new team lands on top
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 12. San Jose Earthquakes (=)
San Jose were another of those sides that decided against playing on Wednesday night after what happened in Wisconsin. Mostly with their match against the MLS is Back winners Portland Timbers being postponed.
The ‘Quakes faced LA Galaxy in the latest edition of the California Clasico but unfortunately were unable to take anything from the clash, despite scoring twice. Valeri Qazaishvili and Cade Cowell both found the net, but the Galaxy equalised twice before scoring a late winner in a 3-2 victory.
San Jose now sits in the 8th spot in the West, just a point off the playoff places, and they have only played six matches so far in the regular-season. They face reigning Supporters’ Shield holders LAFC on Wednesday, before a clash with Colorado Rapids next weekend.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Los Angeles FC (Wednesday 2, 10:30 pm ET), vs. Colorado Rapids (Saturday 5, 10:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 11. New England Revolution (=)
It was a good week for the New England Revolution, as they took four points from their two matches against D.C. United and New York Red Bulls. The Revs now sit inside the top six in the Eastern Conference thanks to those results.
New England started with a solid 2-1 victory over the side from the capital on Tuesday evening, with goals from Teal Bunbury and Gustavo Bou enough to take the points. Bou then scored for a second straight game, as his side drew with the Red Bulls.
They now have 11 points from their opening eight games, and currently sit in 6th spot in the Eastern Conference, despite only having two wins to their name. They will fancy themselves with their two clashes this week, as both come against sides outside the playoff places, in New York City FC and Chicago Fire.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. New York City FC (Wednesday 2, 8 pm ET), @ Chicago Fire (Sunday 6, 7:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 10. Real Salt Lake (-1)
Another of the teams that opted not to play their Wednesday evening match following the events in Keshona, Wisconsin, Real Salt Lake only played once this week, and they needed two late goals to rescue a point in an eight-goal thriller.
Their match with Los Angeles FC was postponed, which meant their focus shifted to Portland, which came on Saturday evening. Corey Baird and Damir Kreilach both scored equalisers in either half, to fight back after the Timbers had taken the lead twice.
Portland then made it 4-2 through Sebastian Blanco and Felipe Mora, but goals from Giuseppe Rossi and Sam Johnson, both in stoppage time, to rescue a point. They remain inside the playoff places after seven games and face tricky tests against Seattle Sounders and Minnesota United this week. Both of those teams are sitting above them in the Western Conference.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Seattle Sounders (Wednesday 2, 9:30 pm ET), @ Minnesota United (Sunday 6, 8 pm ET)