MLS Power Rankings: Torrid Fire sweeps into second

Toronto FC held the top spot by romping over Columbus, 5-0, to run its unbeaten streak to eight games. Important wins for Chicago and the L.A. Galaxy moved them up Soccer America's MLS Power Rankings.

Heading in the other direction are Portland and Orlando City. Their winless streaks were extended to five and six games, respectively, and both have dropped out of the top tier.
 
MLS, Week 13 Results:
May 25
Chicago 2, FC Dallas 1. Highlights
May 26
Toronto FC 5, Columbus 0. Highlights.
May 27
Seattle 1, Portland 0. Highlights
Vancouver 0, D.C United 1. Highlights
NY Red Bulls 2, New England 1. Highlights
Colorado 1, Sporting KC 0. Highlights
Minnesota United 1, Orlando City 0. Highlights
Real Salt Lake 1, Philadelphia 0. Highlights
San Jose 2, L.A. Galaxy 4. Highlights
May 28
Atlanta United 3, New York City FC 1. Highlights
FC Dallas 0, Houston 0. Highlights
 
Only league results are considered in the Power Rankings, which include a team’s current record in parentheses and rank last week.
 
1. TORONTO FC (8-1-5), 1. TFC showed its attacking depth by rolling a fiver without Sebastian Giovinco (injured) and Jozy Altidore (suspended).  Victor Vazquez marked another impressive performance by scoring twice; Justin Morrow, Jonathan Osorio and Jordan Hamilton netted as well; and a solid defense didn’t allow a shot on goal.

2. CHICAGO (7-3-3), 5. The Fire overcame an early equalizer and a squandered penalty kick to win a fourth straight game. Nemanja Nikolic scored his 11th goal of the season with a classy redirection before failing from the penalty spot, but in-between David Accam drilled home a low shot for his seventh goal.

3. NEW YORK CITY FC (6-5-2), 2. A week after romping to a 3-0 triumph in Florida, NYCFC  took it on the chin in Georgia when it conceded three goals by midpoint of the first half. In the 71st minute, Jack Harrison got his fifth goal. David Villa was blanked for just the seventh time in 13 appearances.

4. SPORTING KC (6-4-4), 3. SKC took 25 shots and controlled 73 percent of possession and still was blanked for the sixth time in eight road games, which partially explains its 1-4-3 road mark.

5. ATLANTA UNITED (5-4-3), 11. AUFC reversed a loss at Yankee Stadium earlier this month by the same score; Miguel Almiron scored two goals, Julian Gressel notched two assists, and Hector Villalba notched one of each. A nice turnout at Bobby Dodd Stadium (44,901) gives the club an average attendance of 48,031 (four games) at its temporary home. Yes, that is tops in MLS.

6. FC DALLAS (5-2-5), 4. If the idea was to save a few legs in Chicago for the Sunday home game against Houston, it didn’t work. FCD conceded two early goals on Thursday to render a scrappy Roland Lamah equalizer and a saved PK by Chris Seitz of only statistical importance, and though they took 15 shots at the Houston goal could not score. The home winless streak increased to four games, but midfielder Mauro Diaz made his first appearance since October in the 81st minute.

7. LA GALAXY (5-5-2), 15. Two more goals by Giovani Dos Santos and a fine strike by Joao Pedro carried the Galaxy past the outclassed Quakes, whose own goal with the score 2-2 effectively decided the outcome. An excellent save by Brian Rowe helped nail down a third straight road win. Not only is it coming together for the Galaxy, it is doing so without Sebastian Lletget, Jermaine Jones, Baggio Husidic and Robbie Rogers.

8. SAN JOSE (5-5-4), 6. As improved as the Quakes are, they still don’t have the big-play capability of their Southern California rivals, who regained command when defender Victor Bernardez directed a cross into his own net after Danny Hoesen set up the game’s first goal for Chris Wondolowski and scored himself to tie the game, 2-2. On Friday they play at Portland where the listing Timbers will seek to atone for a 3-0 loss in San Jose May 6.

9. HOUSTON (6-5-2), 9. The first road point of the season ended a five-game losing run during which the Dynamo had been outscored, 14-3, which makes that zero posted by Tyler Deric (three saves) and Co. look really good. Still, it’s strange to see that potent attack generate just four shots in 90 minutes.

10. VANCOUVER (5-6-1), 7. The ‘Caps struck the woodwork three times, including a Cristian Techera penalty kick that would have tied the game, and fell victim to a PK whistled for slight contact by defender Kendall Waston. They have won three of the last five but only once have posted back-to-back victories. Fredy Montero took six shots but was shut out for the fifth straight game.

11. NY RED BULLS (6-6-2), 16. Stung by a Revs’ shot off the crossbar and converted PK in the opening minutes, NYRB rebounded to win with goals by Bradley Wright-Phillips and Daniel Royer. The victory stopped a four-game winless skid. Sean Davis played an efficient and tidy game that included eight recoveries, three tackles, and many completed passes.

12. COLUMBUS (6-7-1), 10. No shots on goal despite 86 percent of 636 passes completed and 63.6 percent of possession? A landmark game for the wrong reasons.
 
13. PHILADELPHIA (4-5-4), 12. A four-game win streak meant nothing at Salt Lake City, where the Union has failed to win in all 10 of its visits since entering the league in 2012. The Union landed seven shots on target and was denied a few times by sharp saves. Rookie Marcus Epps made his pro debut in the 83rd minute.

14. PORTLAND (5-5-3), 8. A goal conceded from a corner kick in the fourth minute and a pair of denied handball appeals marked a fifth straight game without a victory. Shots by Darlington Nagbe and Fanendo Adi struck the arms of opponents but Portland protests were denied.

15. NEW ENGLAND (4-5-4), 14. In the first of back-to-back road games with the New York teams the Revs collapsed after taking an early lead at Red Bull Arena. Lee Nguyen converted a penalty kick in the ninth minute and didn’t get another crack at goal for the rest of the game. Kei Kamara and his replacement, Juan Agudelo, failed to put any of their five shots on target. Keeper Cody Cropper opened the door by twice fumbling the same loose ball prior to NYRB’s equalizer.

16. MONTREAL (3-4-4), 17. The Impact was the only team to not play and thus should be well-rested for the second leg of its Canadian Championship semifinal series against Vancouver on Tuesday. It goes back to league action with the Red Bulls at home Saturday.

17. ORLANDO CITY (6-5-2), 13. OCSC took 20 shots (seven on target) in the absence of Kaka and were shut out for the second straight game and fourth time in the last six games, during which Cyle Larin has scored just one goal.

18. SEATTLE (4-5-4), 18. A headed goal by Cristian Roldan earned the Sounders their second straight 1-0 victory, which required resilient defending for 86 minutes to maintain the lead. Four saves by Stefan Frei earned him his 50th MLS shutout.

19. REAL SALT LAKE (4-8-2), 19. It was a long time coming, but the first goal of the season for Joao Plata arrived in time for RSL to post its second win in the last three games, after dropping four in a row. Nick Rimando wrapped up a nice night’s work by saving a free kick in stoppage time to preserve the victory. It can’t be a coincidence that young Venezuelan Jefferson Savarino registered his second MLS assist in his second league start.

20. D.C. UNITED (4-6-2), 20. A penalty kick boomed into the top corner by Lamar Neagle brought United its second straight away victory and ended a run of three losses, all at home. Bill Hamid did his part by making four saves and escaped sanction -- at least by the match officials -- for a hard foul on Brek Shea as they dueled for a ball in the air.

21. MINNESOTA UNITED (4-7-2), 21. The redemption game for head coach Adrian Heath against his former employer turned out well. Christian Ramirez scored his eighth goal of the season from a superb pass by Johan Venegas (replacing injured ex-Lion Kevin Molino) and the Loons posted their third straight shutout at home.

22. COLORADO (3-8-1), 22. Six shots isn’t much to show for 90 minutes, especially at home, but the first MLS goal for Homegrown signing Kortne Ford nailed down the victory. He headed home a Shkelzen Gashi free kick in the 11th minute and helped his team survive a 25-7 shot disadvantage to end a two-game losing streak.