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. Atlanta United (19-5-6)
Last week: 1.
Result: 4-3 win at San Jose and 2-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake.
How they got here: LWWWWDWWWLWLDWDWDWLWDWWDWWLWWW.
If it defeats Red Bulls on Sunday, it will likely smash the league record for points in a season, which is 69.
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2. New York Red Bulls (18-7-5)
Last week: 2.
Result: 2-0 win vs. Toronto.
How they got here: WLWLWLWWWWDLDWWWLWWWLWWDDWWLDW.
Will be without Bradley Wright-Phillips (accumulation) for Sunday’s showdown with Atlanta United.
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3. L.A.F.C. (14-7-8)
Last week: 5.
Result: 2-0 win vs. San Jose.
How they got here: WWLLWWWDWDLDLWWWDWDLDLLWWDWDW.
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4. Sporting KC (15-8-6)
Last week: 3.
Result: 2-0 loss vs. Philadelphia.
How they got here: LWWDWWDWLWWDDWDWLLDLLWWWWLWWL.
A game that SKC absolutely couldn’t lose, and another reason why I think the MLS champ will come from the East.
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5. Columbus (13-9-8)
Last week: 4.
Result: 3-2 loss at Portland and 2-1 win vs. Colorado.
How they got here: WWDWLLLDWDWWWDDDLLWLLWWWLDWDLW.
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6. Dallas (15-6-8)
Last week: 6.
Result: 2-1 win at Vancouver.
How they got here: DWDDWWLDWDWWWWLWWLWDWLLWDLWDW.
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7. Philadelphia (14-12-4)
Last week: 9.
Result: 1-0 win at Seattle and 2-0 win vs. Sporting KC.
How they got here: WDLDLLWLLWWDWLWLLLWLWLWWWWDLWW.
Six huge points for a team that hasn’t given up on the fourth seed.
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8. Seattle (13-11-5)
Last week: 7.
Result: 1-0 loss vs. Philadelphia and 3-0 loss at L.A. Galaxy.
How they got here: LLLDWLDWLLLWLDLWDDWWWWWWWWWLL.
Not being able to score against the Galaxy? That’s a bad sign.
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9. NYCFC (14-8-8)
Last week: 8.
Result: 1-1 draw at Montreal.
How they got here: WWWDWWDLWLDWLWDWLWWWWLDWLDLLDD.
What has happened to this team?
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10. Real Salt Lake (13-11-6)
Last week: 10.
Result: 2-0 loss at Atlanta United.
How they got here: DLWLWLWLLWLWWWLDLWWLDDWDLWWWDL.
Not a good performance for a team that had a week off.
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11. Montreal (12-14-4)
Last week: 11.
Result: 1-1 draw vs. NYCFC.
How they got here: LLWWLLLLWLLLLWLWWWWLWDLDDWLWWD.
It has locked up in the sixth spot in the East, in my opinion.
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12. Portland (13-9-8)
Last week: 12.
Result: 3-2 win vs. Columbus and 3-2 loss at Minnesota United.
How they got here: LLDDLWWWWWWDDDWWDDWWLLLLWDWLWL.
Gio Savarese didn’t hold back in his comments at halftime, which may have sparked his team from its three-goal deficit.
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13. D.C. United (9-11-8)
Last week: 13.
Result: Did not play.
How they got here: DLDLLWLLWDLDLDWLLWDWWWLLWDWD.
It’s margin for error is next to nothing if it wants to make the playoffs.
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14. L.A. Galaxy (11-11-8)
Last week: 16.
Result: 3-0 win vs. Seattle.
How they got here: WLDWLWLLLLWWLDWDDWWWDWLDDLDLLW.
Still fighting for a playoff spot.
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15. Vancouver (11-11-7)
Last week: 14.
Result: 2-1 loss vs. Dallas.
How they got here: WWLDWLLLWLDDDDWWLLWLLWDWDWLL.
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16. New England (8-10-11)
Last week: 17.
Result: 2-2 draw vs. Chicago.
How they got here: LWDWWLDWDWLDDWDDWDLLLDLLLDWDD.
Eleven draws? That’s absurd.
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17. Minnesota United (10-16-3)
Last week: 19.
Result: 3-2 win vs. Portland.
How they got here: LWWLLLLWWLLDWLLLWLWWWLLDLLLDW.
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18. Toronto (8-15-6)
Last week: 15.
Result: 2-0 loss at New York Red Bulls.
How they got here: LLWLLDWLLWLWDLLLDLLWWDLDWLLWL.
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19. Houston (8-13-8)
Last week: 18.
Result: 0-0 draw at Orlando.
How they got here: WLDLDWLWDWWLLWLDWDLLLLLDLWD.
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20. Chicago (7-15-7)
Last week: 20.
Result: 2-2 draw at New England.
How they got here: LLDWLWDLWLLWLWDDDWLLLLLLLLDWD.
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21. Colorado (6-17-6)
Last week: 21.
Result: 2-1 loss at Columbus.
How they got here: LDWDWLLLLLLLLDWWLLDDLWWDLLLLL.
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22. Orlando City (7-18-4)
Last week: 22.
Result: 0-0 draw vs. Houston.
How they got here: DLLWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLWLLLDLLDLLD.
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23. San Jose (4-18-8)
Last week: 23.
Result: 4-3 loss vs. Atlanta United and 2-0 loss at San Jose.
How they got here: WLLDDDLLLWDLLLLDDDLLLDWLDLWLLLL.
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