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.
Week 14
1. Atlanta United (9-3-2)
Last week: 2
Result: 1-1 draw at New England and 3-1 win vs. Philadelphia
What should have been six points turned into four. The team can make up that ground starting at NYCFC on Saturday, the first of a brutal stretch.
How they got here: LWWWWDWWWLWLDW
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2. Columbus (7-3-5)
Last week: 4
Result: 3-3 draw vs. Toronto
Fighting back from three goals down? Make Gregg Berhalter the U.S. coach.
How they got here: WWDWLLLDWDWWWDD
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3. NYCFC (8-3-3)
Last week: 5
Result: 3-0 win vs. Orlando
Huge game against Atlanta United on Saturday. Huge.
How they got here: WWWDWWDLWLDWLW
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4. New York Red Bulls (7-4-1)
Last week: 1
Result: 2-1 loss at New England
The Red Bulls went ahead by a goal, and the Revs came back to score two. Jesse Marsch said his team simply wasn’t good enough.
How they got here: WLWLWLWWWWDL
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5. Sporting KC (8-2-4)
Last week: 3
Result: 4-1 win vs. Minnesota United
The West will come down to Sporting KC and Dallas.
How they got here: LWWDWWDWLWWDDW
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6. Dallas (7-1-5)
Last week: 9
Result: 3-2 win at L.A. Galaxy and 2-1 win vs. LAFC
See comment about Sporting KC.
How they got here: DWDDWWLDWDWWW
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7. Portland (6-3-3)
Last week: 8
Result: 1-1 draw vs. L.A. Galaxy
A draw at home against a depleted L.A. Galaxy squad isn’t a great result.
How they got here: LLDDLWWWWWWD
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8. L.A.F.C. (6-4-3)
Last week: 6
Result: 2-1 loss at Dallas
Winless in four, LAFC is starting to feel the effects of the MLS season and its lack of depth.
How they got here: WWLLWWWDWDLDL
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9. New England (6-4-4)
Last week: 11
Result: 1-1 draw vs. Atlanta United and 2-1 win vs. New York Red Bulls
Four points from two of the best teams in the East.
How they got here: LWDWWLDWDWLDDW
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10. Houston (5-5-3)
Last week: 7
Result: 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake and 1-0 loss at Montreal
Two road games and two losses. Yikes.
How they got here: WLDLDWLWDWWLL
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11. Orlando City (6-6-1)
Last week: 10
Result: 3-0 loss vs NYCFC
Have the Lions started their summer swoon a few weeks earlier than usual?
How they got here: DLLWWWWWWLLLL
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12. Real Salt Lake (7-6-1)
Last week: 17
Result: 2-1 win vs. Houston and 2-0 win vs. Seattle
Well, this team has started to figure out some things.
How they got here: DLWLWLWLLWLWWW
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13. Vancouver (5-5-5)
Last week: 12
Result: 2-1 win at Colorado
It breaks a string of four consecutive wins, but because it happened at Colorado, I’m not sure it counts.
How they got here: WWLDWLLLWLDDDDW
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14. Chicago (5-7-2)
Last week: 16
Result: 2-1 win vs. San Jose
Chicago, Orlando, Philadelphia and New England will fight for the past two playoff spot in the East.
How they got here: LLDWLWDLWLLWW
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15. Minnesota United (5-8-1)
Last week: 13
Result: 4-1 loss at Sporting KC
The West is so poor, Minnesota United could still make the playoffs.
How they got here: LWWLLLLWWLLDWL
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16. L.A. Galaxy (5-7-2)
Last week: 14
Result: 3-2 loss vs. Dallas and 1-1 draw at Portland
Just one point and continuing issues with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Sigi Schmid has to be feeling some heat.
How they got here: WLDWLWLLLLWWLD
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17. Philadelphia (5-6-3)
Last week: 15
Result: 3-1 loss at Atlanta United
Philadelphia feels hard done by the officials in the Atlanta United game, but it only has itself to blame.
How they got here: WDLDLLWLLWWDWL
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18. Toronto (3-7-2)
Last week: 18
Result: 3-3 draw at Columbus
Michael Bradley had cost Toronto at least four games this season, including all three of Columbus’ goals.
How they got here: LLWLLDWLLWL
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19. Montreal (4-10-0)
Last week: 20
Result: 1-0 win vs. Houston
Remi Garde is not quite done at Montreal.
How they got here: LLWWLLLLWLLLLW
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20. D.C. United (2-5-3)
Last week: 19
Result: DNP
How they got here: DLDLLWLLWD
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21. Seattle (2-7-2)
Last week: 21
Result: 2-0 loss vs. Real Salt Lake
Ugh.
How they got here: LLLDWLDWLLL
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22. San Jose (2-8-3)
Last week: 22
Result: 2-1 loss at Chicago
The Quakes aren’t even tremors anymore.
How they got here: WLLDDDLLLWDLLL
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23. Colorado (2-8-2)
Last week: 23
Result: 2-1 loss vs. Vancouver
Seven consecutive losses. The worst team in MLS, hands down.
How they got here: LDWDWLLLLLLL
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