MLS Power Rankings: A new club takes the top spot
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 9. New England Revolution (=)
The Revs had a good week this week, despite a midweek loss against the league-leading Toronto FC. They then dipped the script and were able to take three points on a road trip to New York, keeping them safely in the top ten on our Power Rankings for another seven days.
Ayo Akinola scored the only goal of the game as the 2017 treble-winners were able to overcome New England on Wednesday. However, the Revs bounced back, with goals from Teal Bunbury and Lee Nguyen giving them the win over NYCFC.
They maintain well in the hunt to secure a playoff spot in games to go but face tricky tests against Montreal Impact and Philadelphia Union this week. They currently sit in 6th in the Eastern Conference, but they have a two-win cushion on the teams below the playoff line.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Montreal Impact (Wed 14, 7:30 pm ET), @ Philadelphia Union (Mon 19, 7:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 8. New York City FC (=)
To use an old cliche, it was a week of two halves for the Sky Blues, as they won convincingly in midweek, before stuttering to a painful defeat against the New England Revolution on Sunday night. This brought an end to their run of three straight wins.
A Valentin Castellanos penalty gave NYCFC an early lead against D.C. United on Wednesday, before second-half goals from Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Keaton Parks gave them a 4-1 win. However, they lost out 2-1 to the Revs, with Alexander Callens’ 93rd-minute goal only a consolation.
News also came through this week that Alexandru Mitrita has gone on loan for 18 months to Al-Ahli, and will not return to MLS until the start of the 2022 campaign. That could be a big hit for NYCFC, who face Orlando and Columbus this week, in two big Eastern Conference ties.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Orlando City SC (Wed 14, 7:30 pm ET), @ Columbus Crew SC (Sun 18, 6 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 7. Orlando City SC (-2)
Due to a positive COVID-19 test among their first-team roster on Saturday, Orlando City’s weekend game versus Columbus Crew was postponed. Because of this, the Lions only played once this week, and have failed a couple of spaces down the Power Rankings.
That one game came against Atlanta United on Wednesday evening, but they could only play out a goalless draw with the Five Stripes. However, their push for the post-season continues, as they still sit inside the top four in the Eastern Conference.
They are scheduled to play both sides from the Big Apple this week, but that will be reliant on negative COVID-19 tests ahead of that first match on Wednesday evening. If they do play, six points are very much on the table for the Lions.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. New York City FC (Wed 14, 7:30 pm ET), @ New York Red Bulls (Sun 18, 7 pm ET)