There have been plenty of changes this week, both on and off the field, but how does it affect our Power Rankings?
This week’s main story came as a follow-up announcement to the Supporters’ Shield news, as the league stated that the playoff places would be based on points-per-game (PPG), bringing the Colorado Rapids back into play.
The league made the decision as they came to the conclusion that the majority of teams in Major League Soccer would not make it to the 23-game mark that they were hoping for, and that the fairest way to decide who made it into the post-season would be to use the points-per-game system.
Due to that decision, a further ten sides qualified for the post-season after midweek results, with two spots remaining in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The decision also led to three sides being eliminated from the playoff race following the full weekend slate.
We move into the final week of the regular season now, with plenty still up for grabs, including the specific placings inside the playoff places. The top four in each Conference receive a home tie in the playoffs, and despite the fact that there are no crowds at the majority of stadia, that could be all-important.
Here are our MLS Power Rankings following the last week’s action.
MLS Power Rankings: 26. FC Cincinnati (=)
Following another week where they failed to pick up anything, FC Cincinnati are out of playoff contention. They are the only side in the extended Eastern Conference who going into the final week of the season knowing they cannot make the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
They failed to score this week, losing 1-0 and 2-0. The former came against Sporting Kansas City before they then lost out to a pair of early goals against Atlanta United at the weekend.
Not just out of playoff contention, but they are also assured of being the worst team in the league in 2020. They will already be looking to next season, as they will aim to make it into the post-season for the first time in their short MLS history.
This Week’s Fixtures: @ Inter Miami CF (Sun 8, 3:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 25. Houston Dynamo (-5)
Two games, two defeats, and officially the first team to be knocked out of contention in the race for the playoff places, it has been a bad week for Houston Dynamo. In amongst it all, they also lost out in a Texan Derby.
Matias Vera was sent off on Wednesday against LAFC after they had already gone two goals down. Ariel Lassiter got one back, but the Dynamo lost 2-1. They then lost 3-0 to rivals FC Dallas, with Franco Jara opening the scoring before Fafa Picault struck twice.
Houston are officially out of the playoff race, and now sit bottom of the Western Conference with a PPG of just 0.95, the only side in the West to average less than a point per game. They face Colorado on ‘Decision Day’ but they will already be looking towards 2021.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Colorado Rapids (Sun 8, 6:30 pm ET)