MLS Power Rankings: Top six remain unchanged with new teams in midfield
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 18. Colorado Rapids (+4)
They may not have made a move into the playoff places just yet, but the Colorado Rapids took four points from their two matches this week. Highlighted by a five-goal victory over Real Salt Lake at the weekend.
They stared their week’s action on Wednesday evening, with a match-up against the Houston Dynamo, one that finished 1-1 after a 96th minute equaliser from Lalas Abubakar. An early Diego Rubio double, followed by second-half strikes from Sam Vines, Braian Galvan, and Cole Bassett saw them down RSL 5-0 on Saturday, for their most convincing win of the season so far.
They may only sit in 10th spot in the West, but the Rapids are now one of the in-form sides in the league. They are just a point off the post-season berths, and with a double game week this time round as well, the Rapids could well make that jump into the top eight.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ FC Dallas (Wed 16, 8:30 pm ET), @ LA Galaxy (Sat 19, 10:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 17. FC Dallas (+1)
It was a week that saw two very contrasting performances from FC Dallas. They followed up a narrow defeat against ten-man Minnesota with a great win against Texan derby rivals Houston Dynamo at the weekend.
Ricardo Pepi and Santiago Mosquera both scored for FCD on Wednesday evening, but the side lost out 3-2 to the Loons. On Saturday evening, they fought back to win, with goals from Andres Ricaurte and Franco Jara enough to seal a 2-1 victory over the Dynamo.
Those three points see them move up a spot in our Power Rankings. In the league, they remain in the 9th spot in the Western Conference and will face the in-form Colorado Rapids on Wednesday evening. This will be ahead of a clash with Western-leading Sporting Kansas City on Saturday afternoon.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Colorado Rapids (Wed 16, 8:30 pm ET), @ Sporting Kansas City (Sat 19, 3:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 16. Real Salt Lake (-1)
From a big high to a huge low, it has been a rollercoaster of a week for Real Salt Lake’s players, and fans alike. It looked like they could do no wrong on Wednesday evening against the reigning Supporters’ Shield holders, but they came crashing down to earth on Saturday night.
Goals from Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram, and Albert Rusnak saw RSL cruise to a comfortable 3-0 victory over LAFC. However, things changed on Saturday, as the Colorado Rapids put five past them in a resounding defeat.
They will look to bounce back this weekend against the Vancouver Whitecaps, in their only game of the week. Despite the damaging defeat, Real Salt Lake remain in a playoff spot in the West, but only by a single point.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Sat 19, 9:30 pm ET)