MLS Power Rankings: Crew rise to the top once again
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 3. Philadelphia Union (+4)
The Union lost ground on the table-topping Columbus Crew in midweek. However, they enjoyed a resounding victory at the weekend over the New York Red Bulls. A win that sees them move into the top two in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
In the biggest game of the midweek slate, Philadelphia came off second best against the Crew. Lucas Zelarayan scored the only goal of the game however, the union responding by scoring three times without reply on Sunday evening.
Goals from Brenden Aaronson, Kacper Przybylko, and Matt Real gave Jim Curtin’s side the three points. They now sit 2nd in both the East and the league, five points behind the Crew. They face the New England Revolution in their only fixture this week, on Saturday evening.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. New England Revolution (Saturday 12, 7:30 pm ET)
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MLS Power Rankings: 2. Toronto FC (-1)
Having made it to the summit of our Power Rankings last week, this time around it was a terrible two matches for the 2017 treble-winning Toronto FC. They lost to both of their Canadian rivals inside the space of four nights.
On Tuesday evening, Greg Vanney’s side were undone by the Impact and themselves. Rudy Camacho gave Montreal a lead they would not surrender.
Toronto did squander a golden opportunity as Alejandro Pozuelo and Pablo Piatti tried to orchestrate a clever penalty, akin to Thierry Henry and Robert Pires for Arsenal all those years ago. However, the goal was ruled out, and the loss was their first of the week.
Despite scoring twice on the road at BC Place, TFC lost out in a five-goal thriller against the Whitecaps. Strikes from Jonathan Osorio and Alejandro Pozuelo were not enough, as Lucas Cavallini, Michael Baldisimo, and Jake Nerwinski found the net to give Vancouver the win. A poor week for TFC sees them drop down our Power Rankings, and the Supporters’ Shield standings, as they prepare to face Montreal again on Wednesday evening.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Montreal Impact (Wednesday 9, 8 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 1. Columbus Crew SC (+1)
They fell off the top spot of the MLS Power Rankings last week, but the Columbus Crew have risen back to the summit after two wins and two clean sheets. They took a perfect six points to also move back to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings.
Their week started on a high note, as they overcame another contender for the Eastern Conference title in Philadelphia Union. Lucas Zelarayan got the only goal of the game before they then put three past Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati at the weekend.
Is it time to start worrying again about the Chicago Fire?. light. Trending
A double from Gyasi Zardes and a Pedro Santos strike gave them a comfortable 3-0 victory as the Crew extends their lead at the top of both the East and the Supporters’ Shield standings to five points. They face the struggling Chicago Fire on Saturday, with the aim of keeping this run going.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Chicago Fire (Saturday 12, 7:30 pm ET)