Galaxy Is New Team On Top Of MLS Power Rankings

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Through nine weeks of the Major League Soccer season, the Los Angeles Galaxy have passed crosstown rival LAFC for the top spot in the power rankings.

They have started the season by winning seven of their first nine matches. LAFC has one more game played but has one more draw than the Galaxy.

Seattle had a subpar week, having tied both of their matches, but one against a poor western conference team.

Real Salt Lake was close to a great road result but Zlatan Ibrahimovic stopped that from happening.

Here are the rest of the rankings after Week 9:

1. LA Galaxy (7-1-1, 22 Points)

Results: 0-0 draw against Minnesota United on the road.
2-1 win over Real Salt Lake at home.

Recap: The Galaxy looked to be in trouble against Real Salt Lake until Zlatan Ibrahimovic came to the rescue in the 78^th minute. A heated affair between the two clubs lived up to its recent expectations. Regardless, LA picked up 3 points and continued to impress.

Previous Ranking: 2

📊 This year's squad is going down in history. pic.twitter.com/XKiEtc0PD5

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 30, 2019

Next Up: at New York Red Bulls (2-4-2), Saturday at 12 p.m. on ESPN.

 

2. LAFC (7-1-2, 23 Points)

Result: 1-1 draw against the Seattle Sounders on the road.

Recap: Carlos Vela continued his MLS dominance as he scored in the 4th minute to level the game. LAFC got off to a horrible start after Sounders striker Jordan Morris scored one minute into the contest.

Previous Ranking: 1

📍 Our Home

We're back on Saturday.

Be here: https://t.co/y3EqM15dNq pic.twitter.com/CGPBlOYc3Z

— LAFC (@LAFC) April 30, 2019

Next Up: vs. Chicago Fire (2-4-3), Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

 

3. Seattle Sounders FC (5-1-3, 18 Points)

Result: 2-2 draw against San Jose Earthquakes at home.
1-1 draw against LAFC at home.

Recap: Seattle was also tasked with a tricky week as they have two home games in only a matter of days. Two points eventuated, the Sounders have slowed down after a fast start to the season.

Previous Ranking: 4

4️⃣ matches, 4️⃣ wins, 1️⃣1️⃣ goals ⚽️

Relive every one ahead of #MINvSEA on Saturday! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Xap331AKsA

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 30, 2019

Next Up: at Minnesota United FC (4-3-2), Saturday at 6 p.m.

 

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

Result: 1-0 win over Columbus Crew on the road.
1-0 loss to Minnesota United on the road.

Recap: D.C. had a tricky week with two road games within the span of 4 days. They got off to a great start beating Columbus 1-0 but lost to Minnesota after Angelo Rodriguez scored 82 minutes into the game.

Previous Ranking: 3

🏡🍳 this Saturday

🎟️ | https://t.co/aqUvGe7e67 pic.twitter.com/T8287eOxfq

— D.C. United (@dcunited) April 29, 2019

Next Up: vs. Columbus Crew (4-5-1), Saturday at 6 p.m.

 

5. Montreal Impact (5-3-2, 17 Points)

Result: 3-0 win over New England Revolution on the road.
1-0 win over Chicago Fire at home.

Recap: Montreal is on a roll. Scoring 4 goals and conceding zero over the past week. They are now sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference.

Previous Ranking: 11

Next Up: vs. NYCFC (2-1-6), Saturday at 3 p.m.

 

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

Result: 0-0 draw against San Jose Earthquakes at home.

Recap: A disappointing 0-0 draw at home against a poor western conference foe. FC Dallas are a better team than San Jose but were unable to capitalize on home field advantage. In fact, San Jose was the more dominant team, holding 59 percent of the ball.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next Up: at Houston Dynamo (5-1-1), Saturday at 2 p.m.

 

7. Philadelphia Union (4-3-2, 14 Points)

Result: 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps on the road.

Recap: The Union conceded the first goal as Whitecaps defender Doneil Henry scored in the 41st minute from a corner kick. Fortunately, the Union answered after Kacper Przybylko slotted the ball into the bottom left corner and past Maxime Crepeau in the 66th minute.

Previous Ranking: 8

Next Up: vs. FC Cincinnati (2-5-2), Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
vs. New England Revolution (2-6-2), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

 

8. Houston Dynamo (5-1-1, 16 Points)

Result: 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew at home.

Recap: Houston was able to take advantage of Columbus to the tune of 2-0. The game consisted of a lot of attacking opportunities with both teams combining for 37 shots. Mauro Manotas and Tomas Martinez were the goal scorers.

Previous Ranking: 7

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

 

9. Minnesota United FC (4-3-2, 14 Points)

Result: 0-0 draw against the LA Galaxy at home.
1-0 win over D.C. United at home.

Recap: Minnesota had a very impressive week. Two home games against two of the best teams in MLS and 4 points to show of it. The 1-0 win over D.C. United was the icing on the cake for Minnesota who now sit in 6^th in the Western Conference.

Previous Ranking: 12

Next Up: vs. Seattle Sounders FC (5-1-3), Saturday at 6 p.m.

 

10. Toronto FC (4-2-1, 13 Points)

Result: 2-1 loss to the Portland Timbers at home.

Recap: After going up 1-0 in the 20th minute on a goal by Jonathon Osorio, Toronto conceded two goals to eventually lose 2-1. They won the battle of possession but were unable to capitalize on opportunities as they only had 6 total shots on goal, compared to Portland’s 11.

Previous Ranking: 6

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

 

11. Real Salt Lake (3-5-1, 10 Points)

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

Recap: RSL lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Galaxy. They struggled in the first half but responded in the second half equalizing, thanks to a Donny Toia tap in. Just when it seemed as though RSL was going to score again, Zlatan Ibrahimovic put the ball in the back of the net in the 78th minute for the game winner.

Previous Ranking: 10

Coming home for May 4th. 🗓 pic.twitter.com/wkjEIFcODC

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) April 30, 2019

Next Up: vs. Portland Timbers (2-5-1), Saturday at 7 p.m. on KSLSports.com and the KSL TV app.

 

12. Sporting Kansas City (2-2-4, 10 Points)

Result: 4-4 draw against New England Revolution at home.

Recap: The 4-4 draw against the Revs did not lack entertainment. A combined 8 goals and two red cards, both being issued to the Revs. SKC was down 4-2 before they were able to capitalize on the extra men.

Previous Ranking: 13

Next Up: vs. Atlanta United FC (2-3-2), Sunday at 7 p.m. on FS1.

 

13. Columbus Crew (4-5-1, 13 Points)

Result: 1-0 loss to D.C. United at home.
2-0 loss to Houston Dynamo on the road.

Recap: The Crew are in trouble. They have now lost 4 consecutive MLS games with two of those losses coming within the past week. The Crew was able to generate chances, notching 19 total shots, but only putting 4 shots on target.

Previous Ranking: 9

Next Up: at D.C. United (5-3-2), Saturday at 6 p.m.

 

14. Orlando City SC (3-3-3, 12 Points)

Result: 1-1 draw against NYCFC on the road.

Recap: Nani was able to score the first goal for the visitors in the 18th minute, but unfortunately the game was leveled in the 51st minute after Heber capitalized on NYCFC’s dominance. Orlando was only able to notch 3 shots on goal and 34 percent possession.

Previous Ranking: 14

Next Up: vs. Toronto FC (4-2-1), Saturday at 2 p.m.

 

15. NYCFC (2-1-6, 12 Points)

Result: 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire at home.
1-1 draw against Orlando City at home.

Recap: After a slow start to the season, NYCFC is gaining confidence after a 1-0 win over Chicago at home and a 1-1 draw at home against Orlando. NYCFC dominated the game against Orlando by out shooting them 15 to 3. They also controlled 65 percent of the possession.

Previous Ranking: 17

Next Up: at Montreal Impact (5-3-2), Saturday at 3 p.m.

 

16. San Jose Earthquakes (2-5-2, 8 Points)

Result: 2-2 draw against Seattle Sounders on the road.
0-0 draw against FC Dallas on the road.

Recap: Two draws in two games for the Earthquakes is a big victory for the struggling Western Conference club with the 2-2 tie in Seattle headlining the week’s results.

Previous Ranking: 18

Next Up: vs. FC Cincinnati (2-5-2), Saturday at 8 p.m.

 

17. Portland Timbers FC (2-5-1, 7 Points)

Result: 2-1 win over Toronto FC on the road.

Recap: A monumental moment in Portland’s season as the Timbers somehow found a way to beat Eastern Conference powerhouse Toronto away from home. Despite conceding first, Portland answered with goals from Bill Tuiloma and Jeremy Ebobisse.

Previous Ranking: 22

Next Up: at Real Salt Lake (3-5-1), Saturday at 7 p.m. on KSLSports.com and the KSL TV app.

 

18. New York Red Bulls (2-4-2, 8 Points)

Result: 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati at home.

Recap: Finally. The Red Bulls can breath a small sigh of relief after a horrifically slow start to 2019. The Red Bulls got the better of the MLS newcomers and maybe the result could capitalize on the momentum gained from the victory.

Previous Ranking: 21

Next Up: vs. LA Galaxy (7-1-1), Saturday at 12 p.m. on ESPN.

 

19. Atlanta United FC (2-3-2, 8 Points)

Result: 1-0 win over Colorado Rapids at home.

Recap: At last, Atlanta was able to pick up just their second win of the season and first win at home, beating the lonely Colorado Rapids. It was Julian Gressel who got onto the end of a Darlington Nagbe assist to give the hosts a 1-0 victory.

Previous Ranking: 23

Next Up: at Sporting Kansas City (2-2-4), Sunday at 7 p.m. on FS1.

 

20. Chicago Fire (2-4-3, 9 Points)

Result: 1-0 loss to NYCFC on the road.
1-0 loss to the Montreal Impact on the road.

Recap: The Fire came into the crossroads of the ramped Montreal Impact who got the better of them with a 1-0 win. It was not until the 83rd minute in which the Fire conceded their only goal of the game. Two losses in the span of a week has them sitting in 8th spot of the Eastern Conference.

Previous Ranking: 15

Next Up: at LAFC (7-1-2), Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

 

21. FC Cincinnati (2-5-2, 8 Points)

Result: 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on the road.

Recap: FC Cincinnati are back scratching their heads after consecutive losses. This week, the NYRB got the better of them. Connor Lade put the ball into the back of the net 38 minutes into the game to beat the expansion side.

Previous Ranking: 16

Next Up: at Philadelphia Union (4-3-2), Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
at San Jose Earthquakes (2-5-2), Saturday at 8 p.m.

 

22. New England Revolution (2-6-2, 8 Points)

Result: 4-4 draw against Sporting Kansas City on the road.

Recap: Despite ending the match down two players, the Revs somehow found a way to run away from SKC with a point. Very little defending took place which eventually resulted in the game ending with a combined 8 goals.

Previous Ranking: 19

Next Up: at Philadelphia Union (4-3-2), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

 

23. Vancouver Whitecaps (1-5-3, 6 Points)

Result: 1-1 draw against the Philadelphia Union at home.

Recap: For the struggling Whitecaps, a draw away from home against an impressive Union outfit is a win. Picking up a point on the road in MLS is easier said than done and when you are not playing the best brand of soccer, a point on the road can go a long way when it comes to gaining momentum.

Previous Ranking: 20

Next Up: at Colorado Rapids (0-7-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

 

24. Colorado Rapids (0-7-2, 2 Points)

Result: 1-0 loss to Atlanta United on the road.

Recap: The Rapids have no answers. They are the worst team in MLS and do not look to be getting better any time soon. Still, the Rapids are yet the only team in the league that hasn’t won a game.

Previous Ranking: 24

Next Up: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (1-5-3), Friday at 7 p.m.