MLS Power Rankings: Portland Timbers breach the top six
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 9. New York City FC (+1)
It was very much a week of two halves for the Sky Blues this time around, as they lost out in a tight game in midweek. This was before taking their revenge on the unsuspecting FC Cincinnati, scoring four without reply for their second win in the last four games.
They had a point all but sealed against Toronto on Wednesday, but a 90th-minute penalty from Alejandro Pozuelo gave the Canadian side the win. NYCFC bounced back on Sunday, though, with a double from Alexandru Mitrita, along with goals from Anton Tinnerholm and Jesus Medina putting FC Cincinnati to the sword.
Those three points see the Sky Blues stay inside the top six in the Eastern Conference, but they remain ten points off the top of the table. They face Inter Miami CF again this week, meeting them for the third time this campaign.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Inter Miami CF (Sat 3, 8 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 8. Sporting Kansas City (-2)
The highest team on our MLS Power Rankings who have fallen this week are Sporting Kansas City, following a midweek defeat to another side in the top bracket of the Supporters’ Shield standings. They were unable to rebound at the weekend as their second match of the week was postponed.
SKC suffered a second straight defeat in the league on Wednesday, as goals from Tesho Akindele and Benji Michel gave Orlando City an unassailable 2-0 lead, with a second-half strike from Johnny Russell not enough. They were scheduled to play Colorado Rapids at the weekend, but a positive COVID-19 test from the Rapids bubble meant the game was postponed.
Instead, Sporting have now had more time to rest for their clash this weekend against Houston Dynamo, and they will be looking to bounce back, having slipped down to 3rd in the Western Conference. They now sit four points off the top, having sat there for the opening part of the season.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Houston Dynamo (Sat 3, 8 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 7. New England Revolution (+9)
The biggest risers on this week’s MLS Multiplex Power Rankings are New England Revolution as they move into the top seven. They have been languishing outside the top half for the majority of the season to date.
They won both of their matches this week, securing victory by two goals in both. Strikes from Henry Kessler, Gustavo Bou, and Diego Fagundez gave them a 3-1 win over Montreal in midweek. This was before they downed D.C. United 2-0, with Bou on the scoresheet against. Adam Buksa also scored a late goal in the victory.
The Revs have made their move into the top five in the Eastern Conference, and are now seven points clear of the playoff line. They face another side in that playoff battle this week, with Nashville SC the visitors to Gillette Stadium.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Nashville SC (Sat 3, 7:30 pm ET)