My weekly MLS Power Poll is out. As with player ratings, this is just meant to start conversation and not to be taken too seriously.
Here we go:
1. Dallas.
Last week: 1.
Result: 0-0 tie with Sporting KC winners over Los Angeles.
Normally a tie isn’t that great, but Dallas fielded its B team because it has a CONCACAF Champions League game this week.
Next game: vs. Pachuca on Wednesday and vs. New England on Saturday.
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2. Portland.
Last week: 2.
Result: 1-0 winners over L.A. Galaxy.
The Timbers are looking like the real deal again, just like in 2015, with six points in their first two games.
Next game: vs. Houston on Saturday.
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3. Houston.
Last week: 3.
Result: 3-1 winners over Columbus.
What to make of Houston? The Dynamo are executing coach Wilmer Cabrera’s tactics almost flawlessly.
Next game: at Portland on Saturday.
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4. New York Red Bulls.
Last week: 4.
Result: 1-0 winners over Colorado.
The Red Bulls did what they needed to dispatch Colorado and how have six points from two games.
Next game: at Seattle on Sunday.
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5. San Jose.
Last week: 6.
Result: 3-2 win over Vancouver.
San Jose has smartly rebuilt its offense and the TAM use is paying dividends with two wins its first two games and four goals scored.
Next game: at Sporting KC on Saturday.
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6. NYCFC
Last week: 12.
Result: 4-0 win over D.C. United.
David Villa just gets better with age with two goals and an assist.
Next game: vs. Montreal on Saturday.
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7. Atlanta United
Last week: 20.
Result: 6-1 win over Minnesota United.
This team will get a much better idea of its place in MLS this week against Chicago after destroying Minnesota United. I’m betting the orange ball won’t be used this week.
Next game: vs. Chicago on Saturday.
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8. Colorado.
Last week: 5.
Result: 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls.
The Rapids look like they aren’t going to be much different than last year, which isn’t a bad thing.
Next game: vs. Minnesota on Saturday.
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9. Toronto.
Last week: 7.
Result: 2-2 tie with Philadelphia.
The men from Canada earned their first points last week, but giving up a 2-1 lead shouldn’t sit well.
Next game: at Vancouver on Saturday.
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10. Orlando
Last week: 9.
Result: No game.
Its game was postponed because of cold weather.
Next game: vs. Philadelphia on Saturday.
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11. Seattle
Last week: 11.
Result: 2-2 tie with Montreal.
Fighting back from falling behind 2-0 is a good sign for the MLS Cup champions.
Next game: vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday.
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12. Chicago
Last week: 18.
Result: 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake
The offense showed early life and then the team held on to get its first three points.
Next game: at Atlanta United on Saturday.
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13. Los Angeles
Last week: 10.
Result: 1-0 loss to Portland.
This team has dropped two games at home and its luck won’t be helped by the potential loss of Gio dos Santos.
Next game: at Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
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14. Sporting KC
Last week: 14.
Result: 0-0 tie with FC Dallas
Two consecutive ties for Sporting KC to start the season and still no goals scored.
Next game: vs. San Jose on Saturday.
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15. Philadelphia
Last week: 16.
Result: 2-2 with Toronto.
Two consecutive ties to start the season, but the good news for the Union is its forwards finally produced.
Next game: at Orlando on Saturday.
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16. Real Salt Lake.
Last week: 8.
Result: 2-0 loss to Chicago.
Two games and no wins for a team that rebuilt its offense in the offseason but still hasn’t scored.
Next game: vs. L.A. Galaxy on Saturday.
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17. D.C. United
Last week: 13.
Result: 4-0 loss to NYCFC.
A team that looked better on paper before the season got steamrolled by the boys in the blue.
Next game: vs. Columbus on Saturday.
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18. Vancouver
Last week: 15.
Result: 3-2 loss to San Jose.
A 2-0 lead last week was undone by a red card. Those are the mistakes that teams with small margins of error can’t make.
Next game: at Tigres UANL on Tuesday and vs. Toronto on Saturday.
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19. New England
Last week: 19.
Result: No game.
Its game was postponed because of cold weather.
Next game: at FC Dallas on Saturday.
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20. Montreal
Last week: 21.
Result: 2-2 tie with Seattle.
A tie isn’t that bad, but they were winning 2-0 and coughed up the lead. You would think the team would have grown tired of that.
Next game: at NYCFC on Saturday.
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21. Columbus
Last week: 17.
Result: 3-1 loss to Houston.
This team is struggling to score goals, which shouldn’t happen with its quality in midfield.
Next game: at D.C. United on Saturday.
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22. Minnesota United
Last week: 22.
Result: 6-1 loss to Atlanta United.
This team looks overmatched across the board.
Next game: at Colorado on Saturday.
Here’s how to read the AJC’s coverage of Atlanta United:
Web: On the Atlanta United channel on AJC.com.
Facebook: On our Facebook page at Atlanta United News Now .
Twitter: Follow Doug Roberson on twitter @DougRobersonAJC.
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