MLS Power Poll: A close race in Week 33

March 11, 2018 Atlanta: Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan celebrates a 3-1 victory over D.C. United during the home opener in a MLS soccer match on Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Atlanta.    Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

March 11, 2018 Atlanta: Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan celebrates a 3-1 victory over D.C. United during the home opener in a MLS soccer match on Sunday, March 11, 2018, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

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 (20-7-5)

Last week: 1.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: WLWLWLWWWWDLDWWWLWWWLWWDDWWLDWWW.

Next up is at Philadelphia, which typically plays the Red Bulls tough.

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2. Atlanta United (20-6-6)

Last week: 2.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: LWWWWDWWWLWLDWDWDWLWDWWDWWLWWWLW.

Team needs just some combination of six points to take the Supporters’ Shield. It could happen this weekend should the Red Bulls lose to Philadelphia and the Five Stripes defeat Chicago.

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3. Dallas (16-7-9)

Last week: 3.

Result: 1-0 loss at D.C. United.

How they got here: DWDDWWLDWDWWWWLWWLWDWLLWDLWDWDWL.

Huge game in the West with Dallas hosting Sporting KC.

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4. Sporting KC (15-8-8)

Last week: 4.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: LWWDWWDWLWWDDWDWLLDLLWWWWLWWLDD.

See above. I think SKC will win this one.

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5. L.A.F.C. (16-8-8)

Last week: 5.

Result: 4-2 win vs. Houston.

How they got here: WWLLWWWDWDLDLWWWDWDLDLLWWDWDWLWW.

Carlos Vela is a joy to watch.

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6. Philadelphia (15-12-5)

Last week: 6.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: WDLDLLWLLWWDWLWLLLWLWLWWWWDLWWDW.

The hype is building for Philadelphia.

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7. Seattle (15-11-5)

Last week: 7.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: LLLDWLDWLLLWLDLWDDWWWWWWWWWLLWW.

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8. Columbus (13-10-9)

Last week: 8.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: WWDWLLLDWDWWWDDDLLWLLWWWLDWDLWDL.

Crew should get three points against Minnesota United.

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9. NYCFC (15-9-8)

Last week: 9.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: WWWDWWDLWLDWLWDWLWWWWLDWLDLLDDWL.

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10. D.C. United (12-11-8)

Last week: 11.

Result: 1-0 win vs. Dallas.

How they got here: DLDLLWLLWDLDLDWLLWDWWWLLWDWDWWW.

Back above the red line, but can they finish the deal?

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11. Portland (14-9-9)

Last week: 10.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: LLDDLWWWWWWDDDWWDDWWLLLLWDWLWLDW.

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12. L.A. Galaxy (12-11-9)

Last week: 12.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: WLDWLWLLLLWWLDWDDWWWDWLDDLDLLWWD.

Can Zlatan drag this team into the playoffs?

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13. Montreal (13-15-4)

Last week: 13.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: LLWWLLLLWLLLLWLWWWWLWDLDDWLWWDLW.

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14. Real Salt Lake (13-12-7)

Last week: 14.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: DLWLWLWLLWLWWWLDLWWLDDWDLWWWDLDL.

This team looked good for a while. Now, it looks like it has no clue what it’s doing.

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15. Vancouver (12-12-7)

Last week: 15.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: WWLDWLLLWLDDDDWWLLWLLWDWDWLLLW.

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16. New England (9-12-11)

Last week: 18.

Result: 2-0 win vs. Orlando City.

How they got here: LWDWWLDWDWLDDWDDWDLLLDLLLDWDDLLW.

If only they could play the Lions every week.

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17. Minnesota United (11-18-3)

Last week: 16.

Result: 2-0 loss vs. Colorado.

How they got here: LWWLLLLWWLLDWLLLWLWWWLLDLLLDWWLL.

It’s hard to imagine Adrian Heath getting another year.

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18. Toronto (9-16-6)

Last week: 18.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: LLWLLDWLLWLWDLLLDLLWWDLDWLLWLWL.

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19. San Jose (4-20-8)

Last week: 19.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: WLLDDDLLLWDLLLLDDDLLLDWLDLWLLLLLL.

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20. Houston (9-15-8)

Last week: 20.

Result: 4-2 loss at LAFC.

How they got here: WLDLDWLWDWWLLWLDWDLLLLLDLWDWLL.

Hard to see Wilmer Cabrera returning as manager.

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21. Chicago (8-17-7)

Last week: 21.

Result: Did not play.

How they got here: LLDWLWDLWLLWLWDDDWLLLLLLLLDWDLWL.

Hard to see Veljko Paunovic returning as manager.

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22. Colorado (7-19-6)

Last week: 22.

Result: 2-0 win at Minnesota.

How they got here: LDWDWLLLLLLLLDWWLLDDLWWDLLLLLLLW.

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23. Orlando City (7-20-4)

Last week: 23.

Result: 2-0 loss at New England.

How they got here: DLLWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLWLLLDLLDLLDLL.

A season that started with so much promise is going to end with a league record for goals allowed and a belief that it quit weeks ago.

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