MLS Power Rankings: Crew rise to the top once again
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 21. Vancouver Whitecaps (+1)
They only played once this week, but the Vancouver Whitecaps took maximum points from that clash. Entirely thanks to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Canadian rivals and the 2017 treble-winning side, Toronto FC.
Goals from Michael Baldisimo, Lucas Cavallini, and Jake Nerwinski were enough to give the Western Conference side the win over TFC. A big win that sees them move their PPG average to exactly one through nine games.
They sit in the 9th spot in the West, two points below the playoff places, and will face off against another side from north of the border this week, as their ‘Canadian swing’ continues. The Whitecaps face Montreal, with both sides coming off the back of wins against Toronto FC.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Montreal Impact (Sunday 13, 9:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 20. D.C. United (+3)
From a victory against a tricky New York Red Bulls side in midweek to failing to test New York City’s goalkeeper out on Sunday evening. It was an odd week for the side from the capital, but D.C. United move into the top 20 on our Power Rankings.
A single goal from Erik Sorga was enough for D.C. to overcome the Red Bulls on Wednesday evening. However, they failed to have a single shot at goal on Sunday night, becoming only the second team in MLS history to record that statistic.
Despite the stat, they won’t want to their name, they took four points from their two matches. They have moved into the playoff places in the East, sitting just above the red line in the 10th. They face the Bulls again this week and will be hoping for a similar result.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. New York Red Bulls (Saturday 12, 7 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 19. San Jose Earthquakes (-5)
The team with the biggest slide on our Power Rankings this week is the San Jose Earthquakes. After they shipped five goals in their first match, the Earthquakes only managed a draw against a struggling Colorado Rapids side.
The ‘Quakes had no match for Los Angeles FC in midweek. A double from Diego Rossi, along with strikes from Bradley Wright-Phillips, Jose Cifuentes, and Danny Musovski, saw them lose 5-1. San Jose then labored to a draw with Colorado, with Chris Wondolowski getting his name on the scoresheet.
The Earthquakes have now dropped to the bottom of the Western Conference standings, but have played a game less than the majority of the sides around them. They will catch that up this week, as they face two multiple-MLS Cup winning sides, in Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Seattle Sounders (Thursday 10, 10 pm ET), vs. LA Galaxy (Sunday 13, 11 pm ET)