MLS Power Rankings: Texas teams on top after Galaxy loss

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Apr 15, 2013

By Ridge Mahoney

Texas takes the first two places in the power rankings with both FC Dallas and Houston posting important home wins.

Other than the Galaxy dropping off the top perch there wasn’t much movement in the top tier, but movement elsewhere dropped several teams and moved others out of the bottom sector.

How tight are the standings as well as the rankings? Seven teams each have eight points with records of either 2-1-2, 2-2-2, or 2-3-2, and there are also seven teams with goal differences of zero or minus-1. Sporting Kansas City, which took last week off, crosses the country to play at Red Bull Arena Wednesday and in Home Depot Center Saturday against the Galaxy.

Week 7 Soccer America MLS Power Rankings
Rank TEAM (W-L-T) Last Week
1. FC DALLAS (5-1-1), 2.
2. HOUSTON (4-2-0), 3.
3. LOS ANGELES (2-1-2), 1.
4. MONTREAL (4-1-1), 4.
5. SPORTING KANSAS CITY (3-1-2), 6.
6. CHIVAS USA (3-2-1), 5.
-------------------------------
7. COLUMBUS (2-1-3), 10.
8. PORTLAND (2-1-3), 14.
9. PHILADELPHIA (2-2-2) 8.
10. VANCOUVER (2-2-2), 9.
--------------------------------
11. REAL SALT LAKE (2-3-2), 12.
12. SAN JOSE (2-3-2), 7.
13. COLORADO (2-3-2) 16.
14. NEW YORK (2-3-2), 18.
15. TORONTO (1-2-3), 13.
16. NEW ENGLAND (1-3-2), 15.
17. D.C. UNITED (1-4-1), 11
18. CHICAGO (1-4-1), 18.
19. SEATTLE (0-3-2), 19.
Bye: Sporting Kansas City.

THE BEST. Each team failed to convert a penalty kick in the FCD-Galaxy showdown before FCD, backed up one of the most raucous home crowds in recent memory, scored late to win, 1-0. Carlo Cudicini thwarted Kenny Cooper from the spot and Raul Fernandez did the same to Landon Donovan before George John headed home the rebound of Eric Hassli’s shot off the crossbar.

By defeating Chicago, 2-1, the Dynamo set a league record with its 35th consecutive home game unbeaten. After a day’s delay to let a blizzard pass through, Montreal and Columbus kicked off at noon Sunday and tied, 1-1, on goals scored four minutes apart. A four-game Chivas USA unbeaten streak ended when it lost at home to Colorado, 1-0, thanks in part to a Jose Correa penalty kick that bounced back off the crossbar.

THE MIDDLE. Dominic Oduro’s immaculate trap and rising blast into the top far corner equaled Marco di Vaio’s long-range strike for the Impact in the Montreal-Columbus encounter watched by a small crowd. The Timbers won their second straight and are unbeaten in the last four after another fine goal by Will Johnson downed the Quakes, who lost for the second time in the last three games to fall out of the top tier.

By tying at home, Philly (against Toronto FC) and Vancouver (RSL) each slipped a notch – combined, they’ve failed to win any of the last seven games. Jack McInerney stabbed home a shot in stoppage time to rescue the Union and Camilo converted a penalty kick for the ‘Caps.

THE REST. Olmes Garcia’s beautiful bending goal into the top corner didn’t stand up for RSL, which conceded a penalty-kick equalizer awarded when defender Nat Borchers slipped and handled the ball.

Livewire rookie Deshorn Brown knocked home an early penalty kick and keeper Clint Irwin posted a second straight shutout to propel the Rapids past Chivas USA. For once, the Red Bulls looked like the real thing; Roy Miller spirited return to the lineup helped neutralize the D.C. United attack, Thierry Henry scored again, and so did defender Jamison Olave in a 2-0 win at RFK Stadium.

TFC was seconds away from a win at Philadelphia but conceded in stoppage time to cancel out Robert Earnshaw’s fifth goal of the season and tie its third straight game. The Revs aren’t providing many thrills this season; their scoreless streak ran to 388 minutes and they failed to put a shot on the Seattle net yet did emerge from CenturyLink Field with a 0-0 tie. They’ve scored one goal and conceded two.

Chris Rolfe equalized for Chicago at Houston, but a Jeff Larentowicz header that could have re-tied the game in the 84th minute instead came back off the bar, and the left the Fire still looking for answers. Steve Zakuani and Lamar Nagle started up top for the first time in an MLS match as the Sounders were stifled by New England. Seattle has scored only two goals, at least three fewer than any other Western Conference team.