L.A. Squads Remain On Top Of MLS Power Rankings

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As the weeks go by, it seems that both Los Angeles-based teams are clearly the best squads in the league. From a standings perspective, LAFC leads the league with 22 points and the LA Galaxy are not far behind on 19.

D.C. United showed promising signs until this past week. Once, the No. 1-ranked team in the rankings, D.C. lost 2-0 at home against NYCFC, who had yet to win this season.

A few other upsets took place with San Jose beating Sporting Kansas City 4-1 at home and the Portland Timbers beating the Columbus Crew on the road. Portland had not won a game until this past weekend.

Real Salt Lake however, has now won two games on the bounce and look to go on the road, again, and take on the LA Galaxy and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It’s a massive road test for RSL, if they can somehow muster a draw on Sunday, it will feel like a win.

Here are the rest of the rankings after Week 8:

1. LAFC (7-1-1, 22 Points)

Result: 1-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps.
4-1 win over Seattle Sounders at home.

Recap: After a disappointing 1-0 loss on the road mid week to the Whitecaps, LAFC rebounded with a dominant performance against the Seattle Sounders to give the Sounders their first loss of the year.

Previous Ranking: 1

Next Up: at Seattle Sounders (5-1-2), Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Sights set on Sunday 👊 pic.twitter.com/PRIv4Fn3R9

— LAFC (@LAFC) April 25, 2019

2. LA Galaxy (6-1-1, 19 Points)

Results: 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo at home.
0-0 draw at Minnesota United.

Recap: The Galaxy are arguably the most in form team in the country. They have not lost since the second week of the season against FC Dallas in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic was not playing.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next Up: vs. Real Salt Lake (3-4-1), Sunday at 6 p.m. on KSLSports.com and the KSL TV app.

It's only been a week, but it's been too long.

See you Sunday 😘 pic.twitter.com/ffnaxn7liw

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 26, 2019

3. D.C. United (5-2-2, 17 Points)

Result: 2-0 loss to NYCFC at home.

Recap: A poor performance on the road against NYCFC cost the visitors. The statistics speak poorly for DC as they conceded 18 shots to their 10. They were also only able to manage 3 shots on target. Surprising considering their form of late.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next Up: at Minnesota United (3-3-2), Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Your @Allstate save of the game!

Fantastic work from @BillHamid28 here to get a paw on Higuaín's effort in the 39th minute. #DCU | #CLBvDC pic.twitter.com/g0rrwmc3YW

— D.C. United (@dcunited) April 26, 2019

4. Seattle Sounders FC (5-1-2, 17 Points)

Result: 4-1 loss to LAFC on the road.

Recap: A bashing by LAFC has the Sounders scratching their heads. However, LAFC is one of the best teams in the league, so maybe things are not as bad as they thought on Sunday.

Previous Ranking: 3

Next Up: vs. LAFC (7-1-1), Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

The #SEAvLAFC Posters By The People, presented by MQF! 🌚

🎨: Carey Spies | https://t.co/W3dcsqEFaT pic.twitter.com/HAUse2N87I

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 26, 2019

5. FC Dallas (5-2-1, 17 Points)

Result: 2-1 win over Atlanta United on the road.

Recap: Another promising result for a top tier team in the western conference. Beating the former champs 2-1 on the road is no easy feat.

Previous Ranking: 7

Next Up: vs. San Jose Earthquakes (2-5-0), Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

How does San Jose's approach change @PaxiPomy's game?

"Winning your duels is very important in a man-to-man team.#FCDvSJ | #DTID pic.twitter.com/Ww0MURMBFc

— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) April 24, 2019

6. Toronto FC (4-1-1, 13 Points)

Result: 4-3 win over Minnesota United FC at home.

Recap: After a slow start to the year, Toronto are finally finding their footing. Winning at home is very important for Toronto as their travel schedule can be long and brutal. A pair of braces for Alejando Pozuelo and Jordan Hamilton were enough to get FC over the line.

Previous Ranking: 9

Next Up: vs. Portland Timbers (1-5-1), Saturday at 1 p.m.

Get set for matchday 👇

📖: https://t.co/A4WXGBZQCA#TFCLive | #TORvPOR pic.twitter.com/X0XerP8Alk

— Toronto FC (@torontofc) April 26, 2019

7. Houston Dynamo (4-1-1, 13 Points)

Result: 2-1 loss to LA Galaxy on the road.

Recap: The Dynamo put up a fight against Zlatan and the Galaxy, but fell just short. Regardless, Houston are a contender in the West and will play playoff soccer this season.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next Up: vs. Columbus Crew (4-4-1), Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

8. Philadelphia Union (4-3-1, 13 Points)

Result: 3-0 win over Montreal Impact at home.

Recap: A big win at home by the Union over a very good Montreal team. The Union are slowly playing their way into form and look to be one of the more dangerous teams in the Eastern Conference.

Previous Ranking: 13

Next Up: at Vancouver Whitecaps (1-5-2), Saturday at 3 p.m.

9. Columbus Crew (4-4-1, 13 Points)

Result: 3-1 loss to the Portland Timbers at home.

Recap: The Crew are slowly coming back down to earth after a stellar start to the season. Losing to Portland over the weekend solidified the fact that they are not the team we once thought they were.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next Up: at Houston Dynamo (4-1-1), Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

10. Real Salt Lake (3-4-1, 10 Points)

Result: 3-0 win over FC Cincinnati on the road.

Recap: RSL have now picked up back to back wins for the first time this season. They have also found their number 9, or in this case, 50. Sam Johnson has started 3 games and has scored twice already.

Previous Ranking: 14

Next Up: at LA Galaxy (6-1-1), Sunday at 6 p.m. on KSLSports.com and the KSL TV app

Get prepped for La La Land.
📋➡️https://t.co/5cOLc47RpC pic.twitter.com/C05OwL55ex

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) April 26, 2019

11. Montreal Impact (4-3-2, 14 Points)

Result: 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union on the road.

Recap: A shake up in the Eastern Conference over the weekend as Montreal were humiliated by the Union to the tune of 3-0. A road loss is not the worst thing in MLS, however it certainly is not ideal.

Previous Ranking: 8

Next Up: vs. Chicago Fire (2-3-3), Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

12. Minnesota United FC (3-3-2, 11 Points)

Result: 4-3 loss at Toronto FC.

Recap: Darwin Quintero continues to light MLS on fire with his scoring ability this year, his brace against Toronto was not enough to give the hosts the 3 points. Minnesota are having their best season in MLS to date.

Previous Ranking: 10

Next Up: vs. D.C. United (5-2-2), Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

13. Sporting Kansas City (2-2-3, 9 Points)

Result: 4-1 loss to San Jose Earthquakes on the road.

Recap: Just when you thought SKC were back on track, they get humiliated by a poor Earthquakes team. Still stuck on nine points, I see SKC a playoff team despite the recent loss.

Previous Ranking: 11

Next Up: vs. New England Revolution (2-6-1), Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

14. Orlando City SC (3-3-2, 11 Points)

Result: 1-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps at home.

Recap: Orlando bounced back from their road trip to Rio Tinto Stadium with a 1-0 victory at home. Nani scored in the 88^th minute for the hosts, a deserving victory as they controlled 60% possession throughout.

Previous Ranking: 17

Next Up: at NYCFC (1-1-5), Saturday at 11 a.m.

15. Chicago Fire (2-3-3, 9 Points)

Result: 4-1 win over the Colorado Rapids at home.

Recap: A big win at home for the struggling Fire. Midfielder Aleksandar Katai scored a brace while C.J Sapong and Nemanja Nikolic also added goals for the hosts.

Previous Ranking: 16

Next Up: at Montreal Impact (4-3-2), Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

16. FC Cincinnati (2-4-2, 8 Points)

Result: 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake at home.

Recap: After some promising results as of late, FC Cincinnati missed an opportunity to pick up 3 points at home. Real Salt Lake beat the hosts in dominant fashion 3-0. FC Cincinnati only ended the game with 1 shot on target.

Previous Ranking: 12

Next Up: at New York Red Bulls (1-4-2), Saturday at 5 p.m.

17. NYCFC (2-1-5, 11 Points)

Result: 2-0 win over D.C. United on the road.

Recap: Upset of the week came in favor of NYCFC. Their first win of the season came against one of the best teams in the league on the road. A remarkable accomplishment for a team that has historically been very relevant in MLS.

Previous Ranking: 19

Next Up: vs. Orlando City SC (3-3-2), Saturday at 11 a.m.

18. San Jose Earthquakes (2-5-1, 7 Points)

Result: 4-1 win over Sporting Kansas City at home.

Recap: Another remarkable win for a team that had only previously won 1 game this year. San Jose seem to enjoy playing at home as both their wins have come at Avaya Stadium.

Previous Ranking: 21

Next Up: at FC Dallas (5-2-1), Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

19. New England Revolution (2-6-1, 7 Points)

Result: 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls at home.

Recap: A much needed win for the Rev’s as they beat a poor Red Bulls team 1-0. Cristian Penilla came off the bendh and scored the only goal of the game in the 73^rd minute to give the hosts the 3 points.

Previous Ranking: 22

Next Up: at Sporting Kansas City (2-2-3), Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

20. Vancouver Whitecaps (1-5-2, 5 Points)

Result: 1-0 win over LAFC at home.
1-0 loss to Orlando City SC on the road.

Recap: In a week that had the Whitecaps playing two games over the course of 4 days, the Whitecaps had a promising showing. Against two very good teams, the Whitecaps took 3 points from a possible 6.

Previous Ranking: 20

Next Up: vs. Philadelphia Union (4-3-1), Saturday at 3 p.m.

21. New York Red Bulls (1-4-2, 5 Points)

Result: 1-0 loss to New England Revolution on the road.

Recap: Traditionally, the Red Bulls have been a dominant force in MLS. This season, however, is not the case. The Red Bulls lost to a very poor Rev’s team 1-0 and have some serious work ahead of them if they intend on being a playoff contender in 2019.

Previous Ranking: 15

Next Up: vs. FC Cincinnati (2-4-2), Saturday at 5 p.m.

22. Portland Timbers FC (1-5-1, 4 Points)

Result: 3-1 win over Columbus Crew on the road.

Recap: A monstrous win for the Timbers who were in panic control prior to this past week. The Crew were a very good team, especially at home and yet the Timbers found a way to win thanks to goals from Mabiala, Ebobisse and Moreira.

Previous Ranking: 24

Next Up: at Toronto FC (4-1-1), Saturday at 1 p.m.

23. Atlanta United FC (1-3-2, 5 Points)

Result: 2-1 loss to FC Dallas at home.

Recap: At this point in the season, it is fair to say that Atlanta are not the same team they were last year. The struggling reigning champs cannot seem to find the same flare that brought them a MLS Championship. They will struggle to make the playoffs if they cannot figure out their issues shortly.

Previous Ranking: 18

Next Up: vs. Colorado Rapids (0-6-2), Saturday at 4 p.m.

24. Colorado Rapids (0-6-2, 2 Points)

Result: 4-1 loss to Chicago Fire on the road.

Recap: Colorado seem to be on the same path as they have been over the last couple of years. A team that does not know how to win. They never had a chance against the Fire this week as they conceded 3 goals in the second half after being tied 1-1 at halftime.

Previous Ranking: 23

Next Up: at Atlanta United (1-3-2), Saturday at 4 p.m.