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 (5-0-3)
Last week: 1.
Result: 3-0 winners over Real Salt Lake.
After a weekend of bizarre results in MLS, Dallas is clearly the league’s best team.
Next game: vs. NYCFC, 8 p.m. Sunday, FS1.
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2. Toronto (5-1-4)
Last week: 7.
Result: 2-1 win over Orlando and 1-0 win over Seattle.
Toronto is now the team to beat in the East after picking up six points with convincing wins over Orlando and Seattle, the latter coming with several key players on the bench.
Next game: at Columbus, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, MLS Live and vs. Minnesota, 3 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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3. NYCFC (5-3-1)
Last week: 8.
Result: 3-1 win over Atlanta United.
The first time it has won back-to-back games this season. I don’t know if it’s the third-best team in the league, but no one else helped themselves last week.
Next game: at Dallas, 8 p.m. Sunday, FS1.
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4. Orlando (6-3-0).
Last week: 2.
Result: 2-1 loss to Toronto and 4-0 loss to Houston.
In the span of one week and two losses on the road, Orlando has gone from contender to yawner. It will get a chance to re-establish itself this week.
Next game: vs. Sporting KC, 7 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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5. Portland (5-3-2)
Last week: 3.
Result: 3-0 loss to San Jose.
The Timbers are starting to sputter after tying Dallas in a game it should have won and then getting drilled by San Jose.
Next game: vs. Atlanta United, 4 p.m. Sunday, ESPN.
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6. Sporting KC (5-2-3)
Last week: 5.
Result: 2-0 win over New York Red Bulls and 2-0 loss to Minnesota United.
Sporting KC got three points from its two games, but not the way you would think. It thumped Red Bulls, but then got bumped by a confident Minnesota United.
Next game: at Orlando, 7 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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7. Columbus (5-4-1)
Last week: 9.
Result: 2-0 win over New England.
True to form, just when I gave up on Columbus it bounces back with a convincing win over the Revs.
Next game: vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, MLS Live and at Montreal, 5 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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8. Houston (5-3-1)
Last week: 10.
Result: 4-0 win over Orlando.
Houston and Atlanta United may be the two most exciting teams once their players get into some space. They took apart Orlando.
Next game: vs. Vancouver, 9 p.m. Friday, MLS Live.
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9. New York Red Bulls (5-5-1)
Last week: 4.
Result: 2-0 loss at Sporting KC and 3-0 loss to Philadelphia.
Like Orlando, New York Red Bulls coughed up a great chance to establish itself as a contender in the East with a two-game week in which it earned 0 points.
Next game: vs. L.A. Galaxy, 6 p.m. Sunday, FS1.
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10. San Jose (4-3-3)
Last week: 13.
Result: 3-0 win over Portland.
San Jose has 11 points from its home games this season. That’s not too shabby, especially after easily dispatching Portland.
Next game: at Colorado, 4 p.m. Saturday, UniVision.
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11. Vancouver (4-4-1)
Last week: 14.
Result: 1-0 win over Colorado.
They may be the least impressive team with four wins I’ve seen.
Next game: at Houston, 9 p.m. Friday, MLS Live.
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12. Atlanta United (3-4-2)
Last week: 6.
Result: 3-1 loss to NYCFC.
A team for which nothing is working right now: offense or defense.
Next game: at Portland, 4 p.m. Sunday, ESPN.
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13. Chicago (3-3-3)
Last week: 11.
Result: 2-2 tie to L.A. Galaxy.
Giving up a 2-0 lead at L.A. isn’t the way to build momentum. Look at that record. Can the team start 2017 over?
Next game: vs. Seattle, 9 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2.
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14. Seattle (2-3-4)
Last week: 12.
Result: 1-0 loss to Toronto.
Either Seattle simply isn’t very good, or it’s very unlucky. It’s difficult to tell.
Next game: at Chicago, 9 p.m. Saturday, ESPN2.
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15. Los Angeles (2-5-2)
Last week: 16.
Result: 2-2 with Chicago.
Tying two teams in two games isn’t ideal, but the Galaxy may have discovered a lineup that works in rallying to tie Chicago. The problem is it may not include Jermaine Jones.
Next game: at New York Red Bulls, 6 p.m. Sunday, FS1.
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16. Minnesota United (3-5-2)
Last week: 20.
Result: 2-0 win over Sporting KC.
See what a little bit of confidence can do? Adrian Heath’s team is playing well after its disastrous start. It’s not always easy to admit when something isn’t working, but the franchise has things things around.
Next game: vs. Toronto, 3 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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17. D.C. United (3-4-2)
Last week: 15.
Result: 1-0 loss to Montreal.
Another team that is very hard to read following a disappointing performance to Montreal.
Next game: vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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18. New England (2-4-4)
Last week: 17.
Result: 2-0 loss to Columbus.
The Revs continue to disappoint with an offense and defense that simply can’t click at the same time.
Next game: vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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19. Montreal (2-3-4).
Last week: 18.
Result: 1-0 win over D.C. United.
Montreal is a tough team to play, but D.C. United made it easier for them in last week’s game with mistakes in falling to their fifth shutout this season.
Next game: vs. Columbus, 5 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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20. Real Salt Lake (2-6-2)
Last week: 19.
Result: 3-0 loss to Dallas.
As top heavy as the West seems to be, it’s bottom is really, really bad.
Next game: at New England, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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21. Philadelphia (1-4-4)
Last week: 22.
Result: 3-0 win over New York Red Bulls.
The Union won their first regular-season game in their last 15 and is, for this week, no longer considered the worst team in MLS.
Next game: at D.C. United, 7 p.m. Saturday, MLS Live.
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22. Colorado (1-6-1)
Last week: 21.
Result: 1-0 loss to Vancouver.
Every team that has scored more than six goals this season in MLS please step forward? Not so fast, Colorado.
Next game: vs. San Jose, 4 p.m. Saturday, UniVision.
