MLS Power Rankings: Idle NYCFC stays on top as pursuers keep winning

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Apr 10, 2018

During a week jumbled by games postponed to assist MLS survivors in the Concacaf Champions League, idle New York City FC held first against a surge of the two teams right behind it.

Atlanta United’s pulverizing of Los Angeles FC and a solid Sporting Kansas City victory in the home of LAFC’s archrival preserved their slots at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. The next tier of teams failed to win,  and New England took advantage to roll over 10-man Montreal and into fourth place.

After staging their epic inaugural derby (4-3) the week before, LAFC and the Galaxy were both shut out while conceding the same goal total, combined.  FC Dallas, which has yet to play on the road, remained undefeated and the Timbers, after five straight on the road to open the season, have yet to win.
 
MLS Week 6:
April 6
New England 4, Montreal 0.  Highlights
April 7
Atlanta United 5, LAFC 0. Highlights
Philadelphia 1, San Jose 1. Highlights
FC Dallas 1, Colorado 1. Highlights
Chicago 1, Columbus 0. Highlights
Real Salt Lake 2, Vancouver 1. Highlights
April 8
Orlando City 3, Portland 2. Highlights
LA Galaxy 0, Sporting KC 2. Highlights
 
Only MLS results are factored into the Power Rankings, which include a team’s record (W-L-T) and rank last week.
 
1. NEW YORK CITY FC (3-0-1), 1. Top dog returns after a week off to battle in the den of the runner-up.
2. ATLANTA UNITED (4-1-0), 2. Early VAR reversal obviously shook up LAFC and energized AUFC, yet 5-0 is still down to superiority. Visit of NYCFC is clearly top match of the week.

Photo courtesy of Atlanta United.

3. SPORTING KC (4-1-1), 3. SKC scored two goals five minutes apart (Daniel Salloi/opportunistic, Johnny Russell/spectacular) and rode the reliability of Tim Melia to prevail. Absence of Felipe Gutierrez (injured) not a factor.
4. NEW ENGLAND (3-1-1), 8. No, the Revs are not this good but they are unbeaten in the last four games and have scored at least two goals in each of those matches.
5. VANCOUVER (3-2-1), 4. Very late goal by Brek Shea came too late.
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6. COLUMBUS (3-2-1), 5. Two shots off the woodwork, a goal disallowed for offside, and the only goal gifted by keeper Zack Steffen added up to an undeserved road defeat.
7. FC DALLAS (1-0-3), 10. Late goal by much-maligned Cristian Colman rescued point at home. First road test of the season is at New England.
8. LOS ANGELES FC (2-2-0), 7. Not the first team to be scorched in Hot’lanta; still, that’s nine goals given up in the last two games as the away slog continues.
9. NY RED BULLS (2-2-0), 9. League program resumes Saturday at home against Montreal.
10. LA GALAXY (2-2-1), 6. Energy output and commitment showed up, guile and creativity did not.
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11. TORONTO FC (1-2-0), 11.  TFC has been prepping in Mexico for CCL second leg. Next league game is at altitude in Colorado. Difficult but doable.
12. REAL SALT LAKE (2-2-1), 17.  RSL didn’t dominate but scored in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time (Luis Silva) and got the insurance goal it needed from Jefferson Savarino.
13. PHILADELPHIA (1-1-2), 12. Nice equalizer by Alejandro Bedoya did not set up Union for the stirring home victory it needed.
14. SAN JOSE (1-2-1), 15. First MLS goal by Magnus Eriksson was sweet.
15. HOUSTON (1-2-1), 14. No game last week. Visits San Jose this weekend in a big six-pointer between teams locked together in the standings.
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16. MONTREAL (2-3-0), 13. Impact gets credit for keeping it close most of time while down to 10 men.
17. MINNESOTA UNITED (2-3-0), 17. Loons sat out the weekend and head to Portland for Timbers’ home opener. Look out.
18. COLORADO (1-1-2), 18. Scratched out a road point that could have been three. Nearly got to the line after Joe Mason’s goal just past the hour mark.
19. ORLANDO CITY (2-2-1), 19. Man who cost the Lions a lot, Dom Dwyer, led them to first two-goal comeback victory in team history.
20. CHICAGO (1-2-1), 21. Fire broke through for first win of season on Nemanja Nikolic’s fourth goal and, not coincidentally, its first shutout with Bastian Schweinsteiger at sweeper.
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21. PORTLAND (0-3-2), 20. After blowing one-goal leads the week before, the Timbers collapsed as a 2-0 lead disappeared in seven minutes. The home schedule commences.
22. D.C. UNITED (0-3-2), 22. United takes its traveling show to Annapolis to face Crew SC.
23. SEATTLE (0-3-0), 23. As the only team having played just three matches, Sounders need sharpness to cope with SKC away.