MLS Power Rankings: Red Bulls and NYCFC move up
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Aug 14, 2018
MLS, Week 24 Results
Saturday, August 11
New England 2 Philadelphia 3.
Columbus 1 Houston 0.
Chicago 0 NY Red Bulls 1.
Colorado 2 San Jose 1.
Real Salt Lake 1 Montreal 1.
LAFC 0 Sporting KC 2.
LA Galaxy 2 Minn. United 2.
Portland 1 Vancouver 2.
Sunday, August 12
Toronto FC 2 NYCFC 3.
D.C. United 3 Orlando City 2.
Seattle 2 FC Dallas 1.
Only MLS results are counted in the Power Rankings, which include a team’s record in parentheses (W-L-T) and rank last week.
1. ATLANTA UNITED (14-4-6), 1. Following a bye week, Josef Martinez will get his first shot at tying the MLS scoring record on Sunday when Atlanta hosts Columbus.
2. NY RED BULLS (15-6-2), 3. The Red Bulls are averaging 2.04 points a game, the most in MLS, after winning at Chicago on Bradley Wright-Phillips' 15th goal of the season.
3. PORTLAND (10-4-7), 2. The Timbers had 69.3 percent of possession, the highest amount they have ever had in an MLS match, and took 26 shots, tied for the third-most in a single MLS match by the club, but they could only manage to get one goal back in the second half. The loss was the first in 16 games.
4. NYCFC (14-5-5), 5. NYCFC got a huge win thanks to two goals from Ismael Tajouri-Shradi after David Villa scored in his first game back since July 24. The win moves NYCFC, tied with the Red Bulls, to within one point of Atlanta United in the race for the Supporters' Shield.
5. FC DALLAS (12-5-6), 4. Dominique Badji, who scored in his debut after coming over from Colorado, could be the answer as the No. 9 FCD has lacked.
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6. COLUMBUS (11-7-6), 7. Gyasi Zardes' stoppage-time goal handed the Crew its third straight win.
7. LA GALAXY (10-8-6), 6. Twice the Galaxy led Minnesota United, and twice it let the Loons back into the game.
8. LAFC (10-7-6), 8. The loss was the first at Banc of California Stadium and extended LAFC's MLS winless streak to five game, the longest in the club's short history. It followed a shootout loss to Houston in the Open Cup.
9. SEATTLE (9-9-5), 9. The Sounders have now won five games in a row and are unbeaten in their last eight.
10. SPORTING KC (11-6-6), 11. Another win -- on goals by Gerso and Ilie -- moved Sporting KC to within three points of Western Conference lead.
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11. REAL SALT LAKE (10-9-5), 10. RSL is still in sixth place in the Western Conference, but Vancouver and Seattle are on its tail.
12. MONTREAL (9-13-3), 12. Not a bad result for the Impact, which has tied its last three games on the road.
13. PHILADELPHIA (9-11-3), 17. Center back Jack Elliott scored the first two goals -- one more goal than he had scored in his entire career for the Union, which moved ahead of Montreal and New England into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The win followed a 3-0 victory in the Open Cup.
14. VANCOUVER (9-9-6), 14. The 'Caps got goals from Kei Kamara in the 14th minute and Cristian Techera (all 5-foot-2 of him with a header) two minutes before halftime and then held on for dear life after the break.
15. NEW ENGLAND (7-8-8), 13. A handball on Antonio Delamea led to Fafa Picault's winning penalty kick for the Union after the Revs had come back to tie on goals by Andrew Farrell and Wilfried Zahibo. The loss dropped them below the red line.
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16. HOUSTON (7-10-6), 15. The Dynamo is in the Open Cup final for the first time ever thanks to its shootout win over LAFC on Wednesday, but it troubles continue in league play where its losing streak is now at four games, the longest of the season.
17. TORONTO FC (6-12-5), 16. Jozy Altidore was sent off in the 11th minute for kicking Alex Callens, forcing the Reds to play with 10 men for almost 80 minutes. Twice they rallied against NYCFC but they couldn't a third time, dropping three points they desperately needed.
18. D.C. UNITED (5-9-6), 18. Luciano Acosta's winner following Wayne Rooney's game-saving tackle will be remembered for a long time, but it doesn't change the fact that United still remains in last place in the Eastern Conference. With a lot of games in hand and a ton of home games remaining, though, there's hope in Buzzard Point.
19. MINNESOTA UNITED (9-13-2), 19. Romario Ibarra had the late equalizer at the StubHub Center.
20. COLORADO (6-12-5), 20. Nana Boateng's first MLS goal came in the third minute of stoppage time to beat the 'Quakes.
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21. ORLANDO CITY (7-15-2), 21. From all reports, it got ugly in the Lions' locker room at Audi Field. They've won once in their last 15 games.
22. CHICAGO (6-14-5), 22. The Fire's losing streak is now at seven games. Only Orlando (nine games) and Colorado (eight games) have had longer losing streaks this season.
23. SAN JOSE (3-13-7), 23. Shea Salinas' swing at Dillon Serna in the 88th minute cost him a red card. Minutes later, the short-handed Quakes lost on Boateng's goal.
MLS, Week 25 Schedule
Tuesday, August 14
LA Galaxy vs. Colorado 10:30 pm. (ESPN+)
Wednesday, August 15
D.C. United vs. Portland 8 pm. (ESPN+)
LAFC vs. Real Salt Lake 10 pm. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)
Saturday, August 18
Seattle vs. LA Galaxy 4 pm. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)
Philadelphia vs. NYCFC 7 pm. (ESPN+)
Vancouver vs. NY Red Bulls 7 pm. (ESPN+)
Montreal vs. Chicago 7:30 pm. (ESPN+)
FC Dallas vs. Minn. United 8 pm. (ESPN+)
Sporting KC vs. Portland 8:30 pm. (ESPN+)
Houston vs. Real Salt Lake 9 pm. (ESPN+)
San Jose vs. Toronto FC 10 pm. (ESPN+)
Sunday, August 19
Atlanta United vs. Columbus 4 pm. (ESPN+)
D.C. United vs. New England 7:30 (FS1, Fox Deportes)
LAFC vs. Colorado 10 pm. (ESPN+)
All times ET.
