MLS Power Rankings: Portland Timbers breach the top six

MLS Power Rankings: 15. Real Salt Lake (+4)

The second side to climb up four places this week are Real Salt Lake, with the side from the Rockies taking four points from their two matches this week. They easily make their way into the playoff places in the Western Conference.

Two goals in eight second-half minutes from Albert Rusnak and Damir Kreilach gave RSL a comfortable 2-0 victory over LA Galaxy in midweek. This was before they played out a goalless draw at Allianz Field against Minnesota United.

Those four points have seen them move into the 8th spot in the West, and they now hold the final playoff berth as it stands. They face the very up-and-down Los Angeles FC in the only match on Sunday, knowing a win could take them as high as 3rd.

This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Los Angeles FC (Sun 4, 9:30 pm ET)

MLS Power Rankings: 14. Colorado Rapids (=)

Staying in the same position on this week’s Power Rankings are Colorado Rapids, who started the week tremendously well, but scoring five times in midweek. However, their second match of the week had to be postponed.

Cole Bassett, Jonathan Lewis, Nicolas Mezquida, and Andre Shinyashiki all got on the scoresheet for the Rapids against the San Jose Earthquakes in midweek, with an own goal making it a 5-0 scoreline. They were scheduled to play Sporting KC on Sunday, but several positive COVID-19 tests in the Rapids camp, including one first-team player, meant that the match was postponed.

Colorado are scheduled to face Portland on Saturday evening, but whether that match goes ahead, only time will tell. For now, the Rapids hold on to 5th spot in the Western Conference, knowing that dependant on results next week, they could be as high as 3rd, or as low as 9th.

This Week’s Fixtures: @ Portland Timbers (Sat 3, 11 pm ET)

MLS Power Rankings: 13. Los Angeles FC (-1)

There were two very different sides to LAFC on show this week. Firstly there was the sublime, as they scored six times in midweek. However, that was followed by the ridiculous, as they lost out at home to the team in the worst vein of form in the entire league.

The Black and Gold scored four times in the opening 14 minutes against Vancouver on Wednesday. Bradley Wright-Phillips got two, with Dejan Jakovic and Diego Rossi also putting their names on the scoresheet. Two own goals from the Whitecaps made it 6-0. That was then followed up with a shocking 2-1 defeat to San Jose, on home soil.

After an up-and-down week, LAFC holds the 7th spot in the Western Conference, with the top eight making it through to the post-season this year. They face Real Salt Lake, who sit on the same number of points, this coming Sunday.

This Week’s Fixtures: @ Real Salt Lake (Sun 4, 9:30 pm ET)