MLS Power Rankings: Change to PPG sees Colorado Rapids rise
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 24. Real Salt Lake (-5)
One of the biggest movers on this week’s Power Rankings are Real Salt Lake, but they have gone in the wrong direction. They lost twice over the last seven days, and have seen themselves eliminated from the playoff race.
On Wednesday evening, a double from Chris Wondolowski condemned RSL to defeat against the San Jose Earthquakes, before they then lost 2-1 against the LA Galaxy in a game where the winner kept their hopes alive.
RSL faces Sporting Kansas City on ‘Decision Day’ knowing that their race is run for the 2020 season. All they can do is maybe get in the way of Sporting’s hopes of taking the top seed in the Western Conference.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Sporting Kansas City (Sun 8, 6:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 23. D.C. United (=)
D.C. United scored four times this week, but only came away with three points, and that came from a 1-0 victory on Wednesday night against the long-time league leaders. That win just kept them in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Julian Gressel scored the only goal of the game on Wednesday as the side from the capital overcame Columbus Crew SC, before a topsy-turvy encounter against the Revs on Sunday. Yamil Asad and Griffin Yow put United two up on early on, but despite a late Gelmin Rivas equaliser, they fell to a 4-3 defeat.
D.C. currently only have a PPG of 0.95, but can still qualify for the playoffs. They need to defeat Montreal Impact on Sunday, and in doing so, will go ahead of the Canadian side in the table. However, they also need some help with Atlanta, Chicago, and Inter Miami all in the hunt as well.
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. Montreal Impact (Sun 8, 3:30 pm ET)
MLS Power Rankings: 22. Inter Miami CF (-1)
Two games, two leads, two defeats. Both of their matches this week followed a similar pattern as Inter Miami were unable to hold onto an early lead in either of their regular-season clashes. The two losses sees their playoff chances dented somewhat.
A Rodolfo Pizarro goal gave them the lead against FC Dallas in midweek, but Franco Jara and Ryan Holllingshead condemned the expansion side to defeat. The same happened on Sunday against Toronto as Blaise Matuidi scored his first MLS goal before the Canadian side came back to win 2-1.
Those two defeats see Inter Miami drop down a single place on our Power Rankings ahead of the final week of the regular season, with their last game of the year coming against FC Cincinnati. If they win that, and results go their way elsewhere, they will make it into the playoffs at the first time of asking
This Week’s Fixtures: vs. FC Cincinnati (Sun 8, 3:30 pm ET)