MLS Power Rankings: Top three clubs maintain position
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 12. Minnesota United (-1)
The Loons only played once this week, as their scheduled clash with Chicago Fire on Wednesday was postponed due to a suspected COVID-19 case among the MNUFC team delegation. However, everything was cleared for their Sunday night game against Houston.
Ethan Finlay scored twice for Minnesota to give them a half-time lead, but once again, they let it slip, with goals from Memo Rodriguez and Niko Hansen seeing drop two points on Sunday evening.
Having been inside the top two for the majority of the early part of the season, MNUFC are now in 5th in the West, but have a game in hand on the side above them, LAFC. The Loons face FC Cincinnati this week, in a game they will be expecting to win.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ FC Cincinnati (Sat 24, 7:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 11. FC Dallas (+2)
There was only one match this week for FC Dallas, but it was a game they capitalized on, and they improved their position in the standings and on our Power Rankings, jumping up two spots thanks to the three points gained.
They faced Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday evening, with a single Ryan Hollingshead strike just before the half-time interval being enough to take the W and keep their momentum going in the right direction.
The Texan side plays the third and final of their catch-up games from the MLS is Back group stages against Nashville SC this week, before a match-up with Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening. They are now just a point off the top four in the West, with two games in hand on the majority of the sides above them in the table.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Nashville SC (Tue 20, 8:30 pm ET), @ Real Salt Lake (Sat 24, 8:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 10. Los Angeles FC (=)
In a week where Los Angeles FC would technically not lose their title as the reigning Supporters’ Shield holders, they struggled on the field, taking just one point from their two match-ups, against a pair of Cascadian sides.
A Lucas Cavallini double gave Vancouver Whitecaps a 2-1 victory over the Black and Gold, despite a late Eduard Atuesta penalty, before they needed a late equaliser from 16-year-old Christian Torres to secure a point on the road in Portland.
That point keeps them inside the top four in the Western Conference at the moment, but the two teams below them both have games in hand. They face ‘El Trafico’ rivals LA Galaxy this weekend, with a Sunday afternoon showdown that could be influential at both ends of the Conference.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. LA Galaxy (Sun 25, 2:30 pm ET)