Ranking this week’s MLS games from best to worst.
Week 5
1. L.A.F.C. (2-0-0) at L.A. Galaxy (1-1-1), 3 p.m. Saturday: Man, do I wish Rage Against the Machine would re-form to play in the parking lot of Stubhub Center before this game. The Battle of Los Angeles is joined.
2. Vancouver (2-1-1) at Columbus (3-0-1), 3 p.m. Saturday: A litmus test of a game. If Columbus wins, I think it is a true contender in the East. If Vancouver wins, it is a contender in what looks like a weak West.
3. Atlanta United (2-1-0) at Minnesota United (2-2-0), 8 p.m. Saturday: Atlanta United's first road game was an absolute disaster. Now, it can show if it's learned anything after posting back-to-back wins at home. Of course, it may snow.
4. New York Red Bulls (2-1-0) at Orlando City (0-2-1) 1 p.m. Saturday: Orlando City has back-to-back home games. It has already dropped five points at home. How many more chances will Jason Kreis get?
5. Real Salt Lake (1-1-1) at Toronto (0-2-0), 8 p.m. Friday: Ok, time for Toronto to begin bouncing back.
6. NYCFC (3-0-1) at San Jose (1-1-0), 8 p.m. Saturday: This will be a tough game for NYCFC. On the road. Across the country. A decent San Jose squad. Still, three points doesn't seem improbable.
7. D.C. United (0-2-2) at Sporting KC (2-1-1), 8:30 p.m. Saturday: This is a chance for Sporting KC to sort out its issues on defense (odd to type) because D.C. United isn't good on offense. At all.
8. New England (1-1-1) at Houston (1-1-1), 8:30 p.m. Saturday: The Dynamo should win this game fairly easily.
9. Portland (0-2-1) at Chicago (0-2-0), 6 p.m. Saturday: The Timbers earned their first point last week, while Chicago is still trying to figure out its lineup.
10. Philadelphia (1-0-1) at Colorado (0-1-1), 9 p.m. Saturday: Ugh. Umm. Philly's kids will get a tough test in the altitude.
11. Montreal (1-2-0) at Seattle (0-2-0), 10 p.m. Saturday: And there's this one. Seattle looks awful. Montreal looks hopeful.
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