MLS Power Rankings: Top three clubs maintain position
By Matt Coles
It was another fun-filled week of action, but what are the major changes to our MLS Power Rankings this week?
The main story of the week came off the field as the Supporters’ Shield Foundation announced that they would not be awarding the Supporters’ Shield trophy for the winners of the league phase of the 2020 season.
The playoff race continues in spite of the announcement from the Foundation, with 18 teams advancing to the post-season action come the end of the regular season. Four of those spots have now been secured, with the current top four sides in the Eastern Conference all assured of playoff action. They include Orlando City SC, who are celebrating after reaching the playoffs for the first time in their six-year history.
Philadelphia Union took four points from their two matches this week to secure qualification for the post-season, while long-time leaders Columbus Crew are also definitely in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for 2020.
Here are our Power Rankings following the last week’s action.
MLS Power Rankings: 26. FC Cincinnati (-1)
Dropping down and spot and now sitting at the bottom of our Power Rankings again are last year’s expansion side FC Cincinnati, following a defeat at the weekend to the side that were bottom of our list last time around.
They started the week well with a victory over Hell is Real rivals Columbus Crew. Goals for Yuya Kubo and Nick Hagglund helped them to a 2-1 win. However, they lost their momentum on Sunday, as they lost 2-1 to D.C. United, despite a 66th-minute strike from Brandon Vazquez.
The Orange and Blue still sit. Above the side from the capital by a single point in the Eastern Conference standings, but they are now four points below the playoff line, and have lost any momentum they did have. They face the struggling Minnesota. United on Saturday, realistically needing a win to keep hopes of post-season action alive.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Minnesota United (Sat 24, 7:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 25. D.C. United (+1)
They are still bottom of the standings, but some hope remains. After beating one of the sides around them at the weekend, D.C. may just have some momentum towards the latter stages of the season, and that is why they move up one place on our Power Rankings this week.
They started the week with a good 2-2 draw against the high-flying Philadelphia Union, with goals from Donovan Pines and Yamil Asad coming in a four-minute spell in the second half. They then downed FC Cincinnati on Sunday, thanks to Pines getting on the scoresheet once again, along with a Chris Odoi-Atsem winner.
D.C. are a point behind the Orange and Blue but have the momentum over their basement rivals now. The side from the capital are five points off the playoff places, but they are still in with a shot of reaching the post-season, especially if they can beat Atlanta United, another of the sides in the bottom four in the East, on Saturday afternoon.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Atlanta United (Sat 24, 4 pm ET)