MLS Power Rankings: Changes galore after Decision Day
By Matt Coles
MLS Power Rankings: 12. New York Red Bulls (+2)
A victory on the final day of the season saw them break the tie-break with two other teams, as the Red Bulls’ extra victory over the course of the 2020 campaign meant they finished the regular-season campaign as the No.6 seed, and go through to the First Round.
They came up against Toronto FC on Sunday afternoon, knowing that the Canadian side were aiming to win the Supporters’ Shield. However, early goals from Tom Barlow and Brian White gave the side from the Big Apple a lead they did not relinquish, holding out to win 2-1.
The victory, along with results elsewhere, saw New York Red Bulls finish above Nashville and New England on the number of wins earned through 2020, meaning they avoid the Play-In Round and go straight to the First Round. They will be on the road against No.3 seed Columbus Crew in late November.
Next Fixture: East First Round (6) @ (3) Columbus Crew SC
MLS Power Rankings: 11. FC Dallas (-1)
After gaining a win in midweek in the last of their postponed games from the MLS is Back tournament, FC Dallas went into the final day of the season knowing that a draw would be enough for them to gain a home tie in the First Round…
A lone Ryan Hollingshead strike was enough for the Texan side to take the victory on Wednesday evening against Nashville SC, but they fell to a 3-0 defeat on ‘Decision Day’ to Minnesota United, losing the No.4 seed in the process.
Thanks to the defeat, they also fell behind the Colorado Rapids, and will now be the No.6 seed for the Western Conference. They will travel to Portland in the First Round of the playoffs to play the Timbers.
Next Fixture: West First Round (6) @ (3) Portland Timbers
MLS Power Rankings: 10. Colorado Rapids (+5)
The biggest movers on our final Power Rankings of the regular-season were Colorado Rapids, who secured two wins in the last week of the campaign to see them move into the top five in the Western Conference on PPG.
Both of those wins came courtesy of a late goal. Firstly, Kellyn Acosta scored in the 83rd minute against Portland on Wednesday as the Rapids won 1-0 before a stoppage-time winner from Diego Rubio gave them a 2-1 win in Houston.
Those two wins saw them climb up from 7th to 5th in the Western Conference over the course of the last four days of the season, and they will now travel to Minnesota as the No.5 seed, as they face the No.4 seed Loons in the First Round of the Western playoffs.
Next Fixture: West First Round (5) @ (4) Minnesota United