MLS Power Rankings: Only slight changes

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Mar 28, 2016

A short weekend of just three games did provide a few insights into where the seasons of several MLS teams might be headed. D.C. United is still winless after falling 3-0 at home to FC Dallas, which posted a second straight shutout despite missing seven international players. New York City squandered a 1-0 lead and failed to exploit a man advantage to leave it winless at home after three games.

Week 4 Results
March 26
New York City FC 1, New England 1. Highlights
D.C. United 0, FC Dallas 3. Highlights
Vancouver 1, Houston 0. Highlights

Only teams that played last weekend carry a comment. Eighteen of 20 teams return to action this weekend following the FIFA international dates.

The Power Rankings are based strictly on results in league competition. They list a team's current rank, its record, and ranking the previous week. 

1. SPORTING KANSAS CITY (3-0-0), 1.
2. MONTREAL (2-1-0), 2.
3. REAL SALT LAKE (1-0-2), 3.
4. TORONTO FC (1-1-1), 4.
5. PHILADELPHIA (2-1-0), 5.
6. LA GALAXY (2-1-0), 6.

7. FC DALLAS (3-1-0), 8. Deprived of seven players by international callups, FCD struck twice in the first half through Michael Barrios and tacked on a third goal by Max Urruti to win its second straight game by shutout. Chris Seitz saved a penalty kick to defuse United's faint hopes. 

8. SAN JOSE (2-1-0), 7.
9. ORLANDO CITY SC (1-0-2), 9.
10. PORTLAND (1-1-1), 10.
11. COLORADO (1-1-1), 11.

12. VANCOUVER (2-2-0), 13. The Set-Play Syndrome continues. Pedro Morales buried his fourth penalty kick in as many attempts this season to down the Dynamo, 1-0. In four matches, the‘Caps have scored six goals, all on set plays. Midfielder Andrew Jacobson stepped in at centerback and helped Vancouver withstand 17 shots to get its second straight victory.

13. HOUSTON (1-2-1), 12. Head coach Owen Coyle bemoaned the referee’s decision that provided Vancouver with its PK as well as an attack that went cold after scoring 11 goals in the first three games of the season. Jalil Anibaba was ruled to have fouled Masato Kudo. Coyle: “That’s never a penalty kick in a million years.”

14. NY RED BULLS (1-2-0), 14.

15. D.C. UNITED (0-2-2), 15. United did just about everything wrong. It blew early chances and handed FCD its first goal with a comical defensive mixup. Fabian Espindola failed to convert a penalty kick. A straight red card dispatched Marcelo Sarvas. Outscored 8-2 and winless, United crosses the country to play San Jose on Saturday.

16. CHICAGO (0-1-2), 16
17. COLUMBUS (0-2-1), 17.

18. NEW ENGLAND (0-1-3), 19. The Revs rallied after falling behind and nearly stole a win. A Chris Tierney free kick glanced off an opponent into the net to tie the game, and New England held out a man down following a straight red card issued to Gershon Koffie. Sub Charlie Davies got around the keeper in the final minutes but his shot was cleared off the goalline.

19. NEW YORK CITY FC (1-1-2), 18.  A lead provided by Thomas McNamara’s headed rebound of an athletic David Villa shot that struck the crossbar didn’t hold up, and NYCFC also couldn’t exploit a man advantage. In fact, had Federico Bravo not dropped back to block Davies’ shot, NYCFC’s home record would have dropped to-0-2-1.  

20. SEATTLE (0-3-0), 20