MLS Power Rankings: Changes galore after Decision Day
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 21. LA Galaxy (-1)
Two games against Cascadian rivals came in the final week of the regular season for the Galaxy, but they could only take a single point from that 180 minutes of play, seeing their chances of playoff action fade away.
They held a lead against the Sounders until the very end, through Javier Hernandez’s strike. However, they conceded in the 93rd minute as their playoff fate was determined. The Galaxy went into the final day of the season knowing that they had nothing to play for and lost 3-0 to Vancouver Whitecaps.
MLS Power Rankings: 20. Chicago Fire (-1)
The Fire did everything they possibly could going forward this week, scoring five goals across their two matches, but poor defensive performances let them down, as they failed to reach the playoffs in 2020.
Robert Beric and Mauricio Pineda struck to give them a two-goal lead against Minnesota on Wednesday evening, but they could only manage a 2-2 draw before they conceded four in ‘Decision Day’. Despite a double from Przemyslaw Frankowski and another for Beric, the Fire lost 4-3 to New York City FC, and with it, their hopes of a playoff spot went begging.
MLS Power Rankings: 19. Vancouver Whitecaps (-2)
Unfortunately for the Whitecaps, their fate had already been sealed ahead of the final day of the season, with the eight places in the Western Conference having been secured before a ball was kicked on ‘Decision Day’.
Vancouver scored three unanswered goals against the Galaxy on Sunday evening to finish their campaign with a win. Lucas Cavallini opened the score before Fredy Montero scored late in both halves to secure a 3-0 victory for the Canadian side. They finished 9th in the Western Conference and were the only side who did not make the post-season to have an average PPG of more than one, and they did by some distance at 1.17 PPG.