MLS Power Rankings: A new club takes the top spot
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 18. Nashville SC (-3)
Having had such a good run of form, one of the league’s newest sides struggled this week, and were only able to take a single point away from their two matches, and they fall three places on our MLS Power Rankings.
Their first match of the week came against Minnesota United, where they played out a scoreless draw with the Loons. Fast forward to Sunday evening, and they lost out 2-1 to Sporting KC, despite taking the lead through Walker Zimmerman’s 15th-minute goal. To make matters worse for the Tennessee-based side, Alistair Johnston was sent off in the second half.
Nashville now sits in 11th in the extended Eastern Conference, only below the red line on the number of wins they have. They do have a game in hand on all the sides around them though. That will extend to two following the end of this week, as they only play once, battling it out with Houston on Wednesday evening.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Houston Dynamo (Wed 14, 8 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 17. Atlanta United (-1)
Less than 24 months ago, Atlanta United were doing battle in the championship game. Now though, they are struggling to even make the playoffs following a week in which they failed to score, and could only accumulate a single point.
The 2018 MLS Cup champions continue to struggle this year, and they have now won just two of their last 11 matches in the regular season. That continued this week, with a 0-0 draw against Orlando City, and a loss by a single goal to the New York Red Bulls at the weekend.
Things don’t get any easier for the side that currently holds the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference as they do battle with Inter Miami, who have won twice against Atlanta this year already, and Toronto FC, who lead the league.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Inter Miami CF (Wed 14, 8 pm ET), @ Toronto FC (Sun 18, 7:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 16. Chicago Fire (+4)
The Chicago Fire are continuing their upturn in form after a dreadful start to the campaign. Although they lost in midweek, a win against the side from the capital on Sunday sees them climb up our Power Rankings once more.
A single goal from Winston Reid on Wednesday evening gave Sporting KC the 1-0 victory over the Fire, but they bounced back to record a 2-1 victory over D.C. United. Mostly with strikes from CJ Sapong and Boris Sekulic in the first half.
The Fire now sits in 9th place in the East, and are in a playoff spot for the first time since the end of the MLS is Back tournament in the summer. They face Minnesota and SKC this week, with the hopes of maintaining that playoff spot come next week’s Power Rankings.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Minnesota United (Wed 14, 8 pm ET), vs. Sporting Kansas City (Sat 17, 3:30 pm ET)