MLS Power Rankings: Portland Timbers breach the top six

Here’s a look at who has risen this week in our latest MLS Power Rankings

The New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire, Nashville SC, and Real Salt Lake were all sides that made big moves in the right direction. They all had solid performances in both of their regular-season matches over the last seven days. Going the other way, the likes of Inter Miami, D.C. United and LA Galaxy, who lost both of their clashes, saw their playoff hopes dented somewhat.

Here are our MLS Power Rankings following the last week’s action.

MLS Power Rankings: 26. Inter Miami CF (-3)

Dropping three spots to take the position of worst team in the league on our MLS Power Rankings this week are Inter Miami CF, as their woes continue. They played twice this week, losing both games by a three-goal margin, despite signing one of the best strikers of the last decade in world football.

They shipped four goals against New York Red Bulls, with a lone Juan Agudelo strike being nothing more than a consolation prize. Gonzalo Higuain became the latest star signing for the club, but he missed a penalty on debut against Philadelphia Union, with the hosts winning 3-0 thanks to goals from Anthony Fontana, Ilsinho, and Brenden Aaronson.

Inter Miami now sits in the 13th spot in the Eastern Conference, with only D.C. United below them, but they sit bottom of our Power Rankings due to the way they lost those two matches this week. They will be looking for an improvement against NYCFC on Saturday.

This Week’s Fixtures: vs. New York City FC (Sat 3, 8 pm ET)

MLS Power Rankings: 25. D.C. United (-4)

It was a poor week for the side from the capital, as they slip four places down our MLS Power Rankings and now currently occupy a spot in the bottom two. They played two matches, failing to score, and also had a man sent off over the course of the last seven days.

Their week got off to a bad start on the stroke of half time against Nashville SC on Wednesday as Russell Canouse was shown a red card. A second-half strike from Daniel Armando Rios gave the expansion side the win. D.C. then lost out to New England on Sunday, conceding twice in the last four minutes of regulation time to lose 2-0.

The side from the capital are now without a victory in their last five matches, having taken just two points from those clashes. They are bottom of both the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield standings but face Atlanta United, a side who are also outside the playoff places in the East, on Saturday evening.

This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Atlanta United (Sat 3, 7 pm ET)