My weekly MLS Power Poll is out.
This is getting more difficult to do each week, especially considering the difficulties teams had in winning road games last week.
As with player ratings, this is just meant to start conversation and not to be taken too seriously.
Here we go:
1. Toronto (7-1-5).
Last week: 2.
Result: 1-1 tie with New York Red Bulls.
Toronto rallied to tie New York Red Bulls and likely would have won had Jozy Altidore not missed another penalty kick.
Next game: vs. Columbus, 7 p.m. Friday, MLS Live.
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2. NYCFC (6-4-2).
Last week: 3.
Result: 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake and 3-0 win at Orlando.
NYCFC bounced back from its mid-week disappointment to hand the Lions their first loss in their new stadium.
Next game: at Atlanta United, 5 p.m. Sunday, ESPN.
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3. Dallas (5-1-4).
Last week: 1.
Result: 1-0 loss to San Jose.
The league’s last unbeaten team finally falls.
Next game: at Chicago, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, MLS Live and vs. Houston, 8 p.m. Sunday, FS1.
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4. Sporting KC (6-3-4).
Last week: 6.
Result: 3-0 win over Seattle and 2-0 loss to Vancouver.
The highs and lows of playing in MLS there within a week.
Next game: at Colorado, 8 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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5. Chicago (6-3-3).
Last week: 10.
Result: 3-0 win over Colorado and 1-0 win over D.C. United.
Six points in a week – albeit against weaker competition – Chicago is suddenly a hot team in the East and MLS.
Next game: vs. Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, MLS Live.
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6. Atlanta United (4-4-3).
Last week: 9.
Result: 4-1 win over Houston.
It was the team’s first home win in almost two months and arguably their best performance this season.
Next game: vs. NYCFC, 5 p.m. Sunday.
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7. Orlando (6-4-2).
Last week: 4.
Result: 1-1 draw at San Jose and 3-0 loss to NYCFC.
One point in a week isn’t good enough, especially now that it seems that Orlando City is starting to come to earth with two points from its last five games.
Next game: at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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8. Portland (5-4-3).
Last week: 5.
Result: 4-1 loss at Montreal.
The Timbers are suddenly winless in their past four with a tough road game upcoming.
Next game: at Seattle, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Fox.
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9. San Jose (5-4-4).
Last week: 12.
Result: 1-1 draw with Orlando and 1-0 win over Dallas.
A very tough week and San Jose comes out with four very good points.
Next game: vs. L.A. Galaxy, 10 p.m. Saturday, Univision.
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10. Columbus (6-6-1).
Last week: 7.
Result: 2-1 loss to New England.
Once again, as soon as I think Columbus is about to establish itself as a threat in the East, it loses steam.
Next game: at Toronto, 7 p.m. Friday, MLS Live.
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11. New York Red Bulls (5-6-2).
Last week: 11.
Result: 1-1 tie with Toronto.
The Red Bulls seem a shell of the team that looked for good for a short time earlier this season.
Next game: vs. New England, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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12. Los Angeles (4-5-2).
Last week: 13.
Result: 2-1 win over Minnesota United.
Another positive result, one of the few for road teams last week.
Next game: at San Jose, 10 p.m. Saturday, Univision.
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13. Vancouver (5-5-1).
Last week: 14.
Result: 2-0 win over Sporting KC.
Possibly the most impressive win of all the Western Conference teams, with another three points should be coming this week.
Next game: vs. Montreal, Tuesday in the Canadian Championship, and vs. D.C. United, 7 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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14. Houston (6-5-1).
Last week: 8.
Result: 2-0 loss at Philadelphia and 4-1 loss at Atlanta United.
It’s hard to consider this team as a contender when it simply can’t win on the road.
Next game: at Dallas, 8 p.m. Sunday, FS1.
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15. New England (4-4-4).
Last week: 15.
Result: 2-1 win over Columbus.
Well, like every other team in the East, the Revs are just good enough to keep things interesting.
Next game: at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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16. Philadelphia (4-4-4).
Last week: 18.
Result: 2-0 win over Houston and 2-1 win over Colorado.
Four consecutive wins for Philadelphia, a first for the franchise.
Next game: at Real Salt Lake, 8 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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17. Minnesota United (3-7-2).
Last week: 16.
Result: 2-1 loss to LA Galaxy.
One of the few home teams to not hold serve last week, though they had plenty of chances to do so.
Next game: vs. Orlando, 8 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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18. Seattle (3-5-4).
Last week: 17.
Result: 3-0 loss at Sporting KC and 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake.
Really, beating Real Salt Lake is just a band-aid.
Next game: vs. Portland, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Fox.
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19. Montreal (3-4-4).
Last week: 20.
Result: 4-1 win over Portland.
Montreal played its best game of the season in defeating Portland.
Next game: at Vancouver on Tuesday in the Canadian Championship.
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20. Real Salt Lake (3-8-2).
Last week: 22.
Result: 2-1 win against NYCFC and a 1-0 loss to Seattle.
Some positives for the team, but still not enough to lift it off the bottom of the pile.
Next game: vs. Philadelphia, 8 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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21. Colorado (2-8-1).
Last week: 19.
Result: 3-0 loss at Chicago and 2-1 loss to Philadelphia.
Again toothless, again really dull to watch.
Next game: vs. Sporting KC, 8 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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22. D.C. United (3-6-2).
Last week: 21.
Result: 1-0 loss to Chicago.
Only Colorado has scored fewer goals than D.C. United’s nine, and three of those came against Atlanta United.
Next game: at Vancouver, 7 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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