It’s time for my weekly MLS Power Poll, the only MLS Power Poll that recognizes that arbitrarily ranking teams means nothing in the grand scheme of things and is done just to spark debate and not attach importance to the reporter’s ego.
1. New York Red Bulls (21-7-5)
Last week: 1.
Result: 1-0 win at Philadelphia.
How they got here: WLWLWLWWWWDLDWWWLWWWLWWDDWWLDWWWW.
Well, they could surpass 69 points and neither win the East nor the Supporters’ Shield.
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2. Atlanta United (21-6-6)
Last week: 2.
Result: 2-1 win vs. Chicago.
How they got here: LWWWWDWWWLWLDWDWDWLWDWWDWWLWWWLWW.
All the team needs is to defeat Toronto and it will take the Supporters’ Shield. Easier said than done.
» Also: Atlanta United's Martino declines to exercise contract option
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3. Sporting KC (17-8-8)
Last week: 4.
Result: 4-1 win at Vancouver and 3-0 win at Dallas.
How they got here: LWWDWWDWLWWDDWDWLLDLLWWWWLWWLDDWW.
Six points last week moved KC to top of the West.
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4. Dallas (16-8-9)
Last week: 3.
Result: 3-0 loss vs. Sporting KC.
How they got here: DWDDWWLDWDWWWWLWWLWDWLLWDLWDWDWLL.
They really shouldn’t be fourth, but I’m giving it to them based upon the season’s work, and not recent results.
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5. L.A.F.C. (16-8-9)
Last week: 5.
Result: 2-2 draw vs. Vancouver.
How they got here: WWLLWWWDWDLDLWWWDWDLDLLWWDWDWLWWD.
Not a good result against Vancouver.
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6. Seattle (17-11-5)
Last week: 7.
Result: 2-1 win at Orlando and 3-2 win at Houston.
How they got here: LLLDWLDWLLLWLDLWDDWWWWWWWWWLLWWWW.
They still just don’t inspire me.
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7. D.C. United (14-11-8)
Last week: 10.
Result: 1-0 win vs. Toronto and 3-1 win NYCFC.
How they got here: DLDLLWLLWDLDLDWLLWDWWWLLWDWDWWWWW.
Back above the red line, but can they finish the deal?
» More: Who is overpaid and underpaid in MLS
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8. Philadelphia (15-13-5)
Last week: 6.
Result: 1-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls.
How they got here: WDLDLLWLLWWDWLWLLLWLWLWWWWDLWWDWL.
Another big game and another loss for the Union.
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9. Portland (15-9-9)
Last week: 11.
Result: 3-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake.
How they got here: LLDDLWWWWWWDDDWWDDWWLLLLWDWLWLDWW.
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10. Columbus (13-11-9)
Last week: 7.
Result: 2-1 loss at Orlando.
How they got here: WWDWLLLDWDWWWDDDLLWLLWWWLDWDLWDLL.
They are in danger of missing the playoffs.
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11. NYCFC (15-10-8)
Last week: 9.
Result: 3-1 loss at D.C. United.
How they got here: WWWDWWDLWLDWLWDWLWWWWLDWLDLLDDWL.
A team that has lost its way.
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12. L.A. Galaxy (13-11-9)
Last week: 12.
Result: 3-1 win at Minnesota.
How they got here: WLDWLWLLLLWWLDWDDWWWDWLDDLDLLWWDW.
Can Zlatan drag this team into the playoffs?
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13. Montreal (14-15-4)
Last week: 13.
Result: 2-0 win at Toronto.
How they got here: LLWWLLLLWLLLLWLWWWWLWDLDDWLWWDLWW.
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14. Real Salt Lake (14-13-7)
Last week: 14.
Result: 4-1 win vs. New England and 3-0 loss at Portland.
How they got here: DLWLWLWLLWLWWWLDLWWLDDWDLWWWDLDLWL.
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15. Vancouver (12-13-8)
Last week: 15.
Result: 4-1 loss vs. Sporting KC and 2-2 draw at LAFC.
How they got here: WWLDWLLLWLDDDDWWLLWLLWDWDWLLLWLD.
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16. New England (9-13-11)
Last week: 18.
Result: 4-1 loss at Real Salt Lake.
How they got here: LWDWWLDWDWLDDWDDWDLLLDLLLDWDDLLWL.
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17. Minnesota United (11-19-3)
Last week: 16.
Result: 3-1 loss vs. L.A. Galaxy.
How they got here: LWWLLLLWWLLDWLLLWLWWWLLDLLLDWWLLL.
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18. Toronto (9-18-6)
Last week: 18.
Result: 1-0 loss at D.C. United and 2-0 loss at Montreal.
How they got here: LLWLLDWLLWLWDLLLDLLWWDLDWLLWLWLLL.
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19. San Jose (4-20-9)
Last week: 19.
Result: 0-0 draw vs. Colorado.
How they got here: WLLDDDLLLWDLLLLDDDLLLDWLDLWLLLLLLD.
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20. Houston (9-16-8)
Last week: 20.
Result: 3-2 loss vs. Seattle.
How they got here: WLDLDWLWDWWLLWLDWDLLLLLDLWDWLLL.
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21. Orlando City (8-21-4)
Last week: 23.
Result: 2-1 loss vs. Seattle and 2-1 win vs. Columbus.
How they got here: DLLWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLWLLLDLLDLLDLLLW.
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22. Chicago (8-18-7)
Last week: 21.
Result: 2-1 loss at Atlanta United.
How they got here: LLDWLWDLWLLWLWDDDWLLLLLLLLDWDLWLL.
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23. Colorado (7-19-7)
Last week: 22.
Result: 0-0 draw at San Jose.
How they got here: LDWDWLLLLLLLLDWWLLDDLWWDLLLLLLLWD.
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