MLS Becoming Top-Heavy League

Apr 17, 2019, 4:29 PM | Updated: 5:01 pm

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Through seven weeks of the Major League Soccer season, the table is starting to separate itself.

Four teams haven’t lost a game through seven weeks.

LAFC continues to stay on top of the Power Rankings and have won six of their seven matches.

Real Salt Lake has moved up three spots to 14 after their 2-1 win over Orlando City SC.

Here are the rest of the rankings after Week 7:

1. LAFC (6-0-1, 19 Points)

Result: 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati at home.

Recap: Carlos Vela, arguably the best player in MLS was the man of the match again over the weekend against FC Cincinnati. Vela assisted the hosts first goal and then scored in the 93rd minute as LAFC beat Cincinnati 2-0.

Previous Ranking: 1

Banc defended 👌

Be here next Sunday for our matchup vs @SoundersFC

🎟️ https://t.co/GFqgtFG37o pic.twitter.com/mBHcij75pA

— LAFC (@LAFC) April 14, 2019

Next Up: at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0-4-2), Wednesday at 8 p.m.
vs. Seattle Sounders FC (5-0-1), Sunday at 5 p.m. on FS1.

2. D.C. United (4-1-2, 14 Points)

Result: 0-0 draw against Montreal Impact at home on Tuesday.
3-2 win over Colorado Rapids on the road.

Recap: Despite playing their third game in only a matter of a week, DC United remain atop the Eastern Conference after a 3-2 win over the Rapids over the weekend.

Previous Ranking: 2

NEWS | @DCUyouth was well-represented and even better showcased in Saturday night’s 2-3 win over Colorado.

🔗 | https://t.co/JlqQi1pJbi #DCU

— D.C. United (@dcunited) April 17, 2019

Next Up: vs. New York City FC (0-1-5), Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

3. Seattle Sounders FC (5-0-1, 16 Points)

Result: 3-2 win over Toronto FC at home.

Recap: Seattle’s stellar start to 2019 continues after a 3-2 win over Toronto FC. Century Link Field has been very good over the years to the Sounders and it seems the trend will continue into 2019.

Previous Ranking: 4

This blast from @CristianRoldan, though ☄️ pic.twitter.com/Pgpgffebmk

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 17, 2019

Next Up: at LAFC (6-0-1), Sunday at 5 p.m. on FS1.

4. LA Galaxy (5-1-0, 15 Points)

Result: 2-0 win over Philadelphia Union at home.

Recap: Ibrahimovic scored twice for the home team and beat the Union 2-0. The Galaxy are playing nice football at home, partially due to their star man, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Previous Ranking: 8

All love 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/J0Np1W9lex

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 17, 2019

Next Up: vs. Houston Dynamo (4-0-1), Friday at 9 p.m.

5. Columbus Crew (4-2-1, 13 Points)

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

Recap: Columbus slipped on the road losing 1-0 to Montreal and consequently dropped to second place in the Eastern Conference. Harry Novillo’s goal in the 55^th minute was enough to seal the deal for the home team,

Previous Ranking: 3

Our thoughts on being at 🏡 summed up 👇 #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/7YXtygo0jG

— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) April 17, 2019

Next Up: vs. Portland Timbers (0-5-1), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

6. Houston Dynamo (4-0-1, 13 Points)

Result: 2-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes at home.

Recap: Houston did what was expected of them at home against the lonely Earthquakes. A promising 2-1 victory that included goals from Alberth Elis and Tomas Martinez was enough to seal the deal for the Dynamo.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next Up: at LA Galaxy (5-1-0), Friday at 9 p.m.

7. FC Dallas (4-2-1, 13 Points)

Result: 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers at home.

Recap: FC Dallas beat the desperate Timbers at home in part thanks to a Jesus Ferreira goal and Reto Ziegler penalty kick. A late goal from Paredes made the final twenty minutes interesting, regardless, Dallas picked up the three points.

Previous Ranking: 7

Next Up: at Atlanta United FC (1-2-2), Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

8. Montreal Impact (3-2-2, 11 Points)

Result: 0-0 draw at D.C. United on Tuesday.
1-0 win over Columbus Crew at home.

Recap: Despite playing three games over the course of one week, the Impact were able to get the better of the then number one team in the Eastern Conference beating the Crew 1-0 at home. A big result for the Impact as they hope to improve their three win record.

Previous Ranking: 14

Next Up: at Philadelphia Union (3-3-1), Saturday at 11 a.m.

9. Toronto FC (3-1-1, 10 Points)

Result: 3-2 loss at Seattle Sounders FC.

Recap: A disappointing loss on the road, considering they took the opening lead after Jozy Altidore scored first for the visitors in the 11^th minute. Altidore ended with a brace but it was not enough to get the better of the Sounders.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next Up: vs. Minnesota United FC (3-2-1), Friday at 6 p.m.

10. Minnesota United FC (3-2-1, 10 Points)

Result: 3-3 draw against New York City FC at home.

Recap: Despite scoring the opening goal, and being up 3-2 inside of 33 minutes, Minnesota conceded a goal in the second half and drew 3-3 with NYCFC at home. A big test this Friday as they travel to Toronto.

Previous Ranking: 12

Next Up: at Toronto FC (3-1-1), Friday at 6 p.m.

11. Sporting Kansas City (2-1-3, 9 Points)

Result: 5-2 loss to Monterrey in CONCACAF Champions League (lost 10-2 on Aggregate) on Thursday.
2-2 draw against New York Red Bulls at home.

Recap: Anytime you don’t pick up three points at home, you are disappointed. SKC drew 2-2 with the NYRB. Gianluca Busio scored in the 88^th minute for the home team to barely run away with a point.

Previous Ranking: 10

Next Up: at San Jose Earthquakes (1-5-0), Saturday at 8 p.m.

12. FC Cincinnati (2-3-2, 8 Points)

Result: 2-0 loss at LAFC.

Recap: Unfortunately, MLS newcomers found life difficult playing the best team in the land at their place. A 2-0 loss has FC Cincinnati hoping to bounce back this Friday against RSL on their pitch.

Previous Ranking: 9

Next Up: vs. Real Salt Lake (2-4-1), Friday at 5:30 p.m. on KSLSports.com and the KSL TV app.

13. Philadelphia Union (3-3-1, 10 Points)

Result: 2-0 loss at LA Galaxy.

Recap: The Union unfortunately rang into Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the LA Galaxy in the wrong week. The star Swede was too big and powerful and the Union were unable to break the back line of the Galaxy.

Previous Ranking: 11

Next Up: vs. Montreal Impact (3-2-2), Saturday at 11 a.m.

14. Real Salt Lake (2-4-1, 7 Points)

Result: 2-1 win over Orlando City SC at home.

Recap: RSL found themselves back on the winners list getting the better of Orlando City at home. They ended a four game losing streak and will look to build momentum after picking up three points over the weekend.

Previous Ranking: 17

Next Up: at FC Cincinnati (2-3-2), Friday at 5:30 p.m. on KSLSports.com and the KSL TV app.

15. New York Red Bulls (1-3-2, 5 Points)

Result: 2-2 draw at Sporting Kansas City.

Recap: The Red Bulls have gotten off to a slow start, but the 2-2 draw at SKC is a step in the right direction. They are still however looking for their second win of the season.

Previous Ranking: 15

Next Up: at New England Revolution (1-5-1), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

16. Chicago Fire (1-2-3, 6 Points)

Result: 1-1 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps at home on Friday.

Recap: Another draw for Chicago as they look to pick up their second win of the season. Unfortunately they were unable to do so against the Whitecaps this weekend. A very winnable game against a poor team.

Previous Ranking: 16

Next Up: vs. Colorado Rapids (0-5-2), Saturday at 11 a.m.

17. Orlando City SC (2-3-2, 8 Points)

Result: 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake.

Recap: A late Nani free kick goal made the final 10 minutes interesting, but Orlando were unable to pick up any points on the road in Salt Lake City losing to RSL 2-1.

Previous Ranking: 13

Next Up: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0-4-2), Saturday at 1 p.m.

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

Result: 2-0 win at New England Revolution.

Recap: Believe it or not, the reigning MLS champs picked up their first win of 2019 in week seven. Ezequil Barco scored a brace and Hector Villalba had two assists.

Previous Ranking: 21

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

19. NYCFC (0-1-5, 5 Points)

Result: 3-3 draw at Minnesota United.

Recap: A promising point for NYCFC on the road, they scored the only goal of the second half to run away from Minnesota with a point. Still, for a year that had high expectations, they are running out of time to figure out their issues.

Previous Ranking: 19

Next Up: at D.C. United (4-1-2), Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

20. Vancouver Whitecaps (0-4-2, 2 Points)

Result: 1-1 draw at Chicago Fire on Friday.

Recap: The Whitecaps are still winless in 2019. They went on the road to face a bad Chicago outfit and picked up a point. Could that be enough to see Vancouver gain momentum going forward?

Previous Ranking: 22

Next Up: vs. LAFC (6-0-1), Wednesday at 8 p.m.
at Orlando City SC (2-3-2), Saturday at 1 p.m.

21. San Jose Earthquakes (1-5-0, 3 Points)

Result: 2-1 loss to Houston Dynamo on the road.

Recap: San Jose were unable to capitalize on their first win two weeks ago as they lost 2-1 to the Dynamo on the road over the weekend. They put up a fight and look to be gaining momentum as the weeks pass by.

Previous Ranking: 24

Next Up: vs. Sporting Kansas City (1-5-0), Saturday at 8 p.m.

22. New England Revolution (1-5-1, 4 Points)

Result: 2-0 loss to Atlanta United at home.

Recap: The Revs are in all sorts of trouble to start 2019. A 2-0 loss at home to a remarkably poor Atlanta squad has them already looking like one of the worst teams in MLS this season.

Previous Ranking: 18

Next Up: vs. New York Red Bulls (1-3-2), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.