MLS Power Rankings: Crew rise to the top once again
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 6. Orlando City SC (-1)
Two matches, two draws this week for Orlando City SC. They maintain their place in the top four in the Eastern Conference, as the franchise aims for its first-ever appearance in the post-season, at the sixth attempt.
Benji Michel scored Orlando’s only goal in both matches, firstly doing so against Nashville SC in midweek. Randall Leal scored for the side from Tennessee to see the match end 1-1. Michel then netted against Atlanta, only for a late Adam Jahn equalizer to see the Lions draw a second straight game by a one-all scoreline.
Orlando now sits in 4th spot in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind 2nd placed Philadelphia Union. Their lone match this week comes against the other expansion side of 2020, Inter Miami CF.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Inter Miami CF (Saturday 12, 7:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 5. Seattle Sounders (-1)
The first of several of the leading sides to struggle this week were the Seattle Sounders. They could only manage to come away from their two league matches with a single point, earned after a draw with Real Salt Lake in midweek.
That match finished 2-2, with Yeimar Gomez and Nicolas Lodeiro getting their names on the scoresheet. They then hosted Portland Timbers in a Cascadia Cup contest at CenturyLink Field but fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Goals from Felipe Mora and Eryk Williamson condemned them to the loss, despite a Kelvin Leerdam strike for the Rave Green. Seattle remains in 2nd in the West, two points behind Sporting KC, and they will look for an upturn in form against San Jose on Thursday night.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Thursday 10, 10 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 4. Sporting Kansas City (-1)
Despite only managing to take a single point from their two matches this week, Sporting Kansas City still leads the way at the top of the Western Conference. It was not a good week for the side though, as they slip down to 4th on our Power Rankings.
Khiry Shelton scored for Sporting against FC Dallas in midweek, but his goal was canceled out by Franco Jara’s strike. After taking a point there, they then traveled to face the other Texan side in the league, Houston Dynamo.
However, despite a goal from Erik Hurtado, and several saves from goalkeeper Tim Melia, they fell to a 2-1 defeat. SKC still remain top of the Western Conference, but they face a tricky test against 3rd placed Minnesota United at the weekend.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Minnesota United (Sunday 13, 8:30 pm ET)