MLS Power Rankings: The home stretch begins

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Sep 14, 2023

With Lucho Acosta (No. 10) pulling the strings, FC Cincinnati is running away in the 2023 Supporters' Shield race. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire.

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Top-ranked FC Cincinnati has a commanding nine-point lead in the Supporters' Shield race with five weeks left in the 2023 regular season.

Reminder: Only results in MLS play (regular season) count in determining the Power Rankings.

1. (1) FC Cincinnati (17-4-6)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. at Philadelphia. Sept. 20. at CF Montreal. Sept. 23. Charlotte FC. Sept. 30. at Toronto FC. Oct. 4. NY Red Bulls. Oct. 7. at Inter Miami. Oct. 21. Atlanta United.

2. (2) Philadelphia (14-8-4)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (8): Sept. 16. FC Cincinnati. Sept. 20. at Charlotte FC. Sept. 23. LAFC. Sept. 27. FC Dallas. Sept. 30. at Columbus. Oct. 4. Atlanta United. Oct. 7. Nashville SC. Oct. 21. at New England.

3. (3) New England (13-5-9)
Last week: 1-1 at Minnesota United.

• For the second game in a row, the Revs blew a lead in stoppage time, the difference between trailing FC Cincinnati by five points and nine points in the battle for the Eastern Conference lead and Supporters' Shield race.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. at Colorado. Sept. 23. at Chicago. Sept. 30. Charlotte FC. Oct. 4. Columbus. Oct. 7. at Orlando City. Oct. 14. at Nashville SC. Oct. 21. Philadelphia.

4. (4) Orlando City (13-6-8)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. Columbus. Sept. 20. at NYCFC. Sept. 24. Inter Miami. Sept. 30. CF Montreal. Oct. 4. at Nashville SC. Oct. 7. New England. Oct. 21. at Toronto FC.

5. (6) St. Louis City (15-10-3)
Last week: 2-2 at LA Galaxy.

• The two goals by Sam Adeniran and Joao Klauss (in his first start since April 6) against the Galaxy give City SC 55 goals, the most in MLS.

Remaining games (6): Sept. 16. at Houston. Sept. 20. LAFC. Sept. 23. at Minnesota United. Sept. 30. Sporting KC. Oct. 4. at Vancouver. Oct. 21. Seattle.

6. (6) Houston (11-10-6)
Last week:  off.

Remaining games (7+1): Sept. 16. St. Louis City. Sept. 20. Vancouver. Sept. 23. at Sporting KC. Sept. 27. at Inter Miami (U.S. Open Cup final) Sept. 30. FC Dallas. Oct. 4. at CF Montreal. Oct. 7. Colorado. Oct. 21. at Portland.

7. (7) Atlanta United (11-8-9)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (6): Sept. 16. Inter Miami. Sept. 20. at D.C. United. Sept. 23. CF Montreal. Oct. 4. at Philadelphia. Oct. 7. Columbus. Oct. 21. at FC Cincinnati.

8. (4) LAFC (11-9-7)
Last week: 0-2 at Portland.

• For the second time this summer, LAFC has lost three games in a row. It started league play with a 7-1-4 record, but is 4-8-3 since losing to Leon in the final of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League.

Remaining games (7+1): Sept. 16. LA Galaxy. Sept. 20. at Saint Louis City. Sept. 23. at Philadelphia. Sept. 27. Tigres (Campeones Cup). Oct. 1. Real Salt Lake. Oct. 4. Minnesota United. Oct. 7. at Austin FC. Oct. 21. at Vancouver.

9. (9) Vancouver (10-8-8)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (8): Sept. 16. at Toronto FC. Sept. 20. at Houston. Sept. 23. at Real Salt Lake. Sept. 27. at Colorado. Sept. 30. D.C. United. Oct. 4. Saint Louis City. Oct. 7. at Seattle. Oct. 21. LAFC.

10. (10) Columbus (13-8-6)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. at Orlando City. Sept. 20. Chicago. Sept. 23. at FC Dallas. Sept. 30. Philadelphia. Oct. 4. at New England. Oct. 7. at Atlanta United. Oct. 21. CF Montreal.

11. (11) Seattle (11-9-8)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (6): Sept. 16. at FC Dallas. Sept. 20. at Colorado. Sept. 30. at Nashville SC. Oct. 4. LA Galaxy. Oct. 7. Vancouver. Oct. 21. at Saint Louis City.

12. (12) Nashville SC (11-9-7)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 20. at Sporting KC. Sept. 23. at San Jose. Sept. 30. Seattle. Oct. 4. Orlando City. Oct. 7. at Philadelphia. Oct. 14. New England. Oct. 21. NY Red Bulls.

13. (13) Minnesota United (9-8-10)
Last week: 1-1 vs. New England.

• Franco Fragapane's equalizer was set up by goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, brought forward in stoppage time. The tie extended the Loons’ unbeaten streak to seven straight games.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. Sporting KC. Sept. 20. at LA Galaxy. Sept. 23. Saint Louis City. Sept. 30. San Jose. Oct. 4. at LAFC. Oct. 7. LA Galaxy. Oct. 21. at Sporting KC.

14. (14) Real Salt Lake (11-9-7)
Last week:  off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. at San Jose. Sept. 20. FC Dallas. Sept. 23. Vancouver. Oct. 1. at LAFC. Oct. 7. Sporting KC. Sept. 14. at LA Galaxy. Oct. 21. at Colorado.

15. (15) San Jose (9-9-10)
Last week: 0-0 at D.C. United.

• First-year Brazilian goalkeeper Daniel produced eight saves - his most in an MLS match -- to record his fifth shutout of the season.

Remaining games (6): Sept. 16. Real Salt Lake. Sept. 20. at Portland. Sept. 23. Nashville SC. Sept. 30. at Minnesota United. Oct. 7. at FC Dallas. Oct. 21. Austin FC.

16. (16)  FC Dallas (9-10-7)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (8): Sept. 16. Seattle. Sept. 20. at Real Salt Lake. Sept. 23. Columbus. Sept. 27. at Philadelphia. Sept. 30. at Houston, Oct. 4. Colorado. Oct. 7. San Jose. Oct. 21. at LA Galaxy.

17. (18) Inter Miami (8-14-4)
Last week: 3-2 vs. Sporting KC.

• Lionel Messi update: Messi scored the only goal -- on a free kick -- to give Argentina a 1-0 win over Ecuador in their World Cup 2026 qualifying opener, but he did not dress for the 3-0 win at Bolivia after asking to come off in the 88th minute of the Ecuador match in Buenos Aires.  "He wasn't ready to play," said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who added that Messi tried to recover but "didn't feel comfortable and we didn't take the risk."

Remaining games (8+1): Sept. 16. at Atlanta United. Sept. 20. Toronto FC. Sept. 24. at Orlando City. Sept. 27. Houston (U.S. Open Cup final). Sept. 30. NYCFC. Oct. 4. at Chicago. Oct. 7. FC Cincinnati. Oct. 18. Charlotte FC. Oct. 21. at Charlotte FC.

18. (19) LA Galaxy (7-10-9)
Last week: 2-2 vs. St. Louis City.

• The Galaxy ranks third among all MLS teams, behind only Columbus and Real Salt Lake, with 1.8 points-per-game (5-1-6 record) dating back to May 31.

Remaining games (8): Sept. 16. at LAFC. Sept. 20. Minnesota United. Sept. 24. at Austin United. Sept. 30. Portland. Oct. 4. at Seattle. Oct. 7. at Minnesota United. Oct. 14. Real Salt Lake. Oct. 21. FC Dallas.

19. (20) Austin FC (9-12-6)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 17. Portland. Sept. 20. at NY Red Bulls. Sept. 24. LA Galaxy. Sept. 30. at Colorado. Oct. 4. D.C. United. Oct. 7. LAFC. Oct. 21. at  San Jose.

20. (21) Charlotte FC (7-9-10)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (8): Sept. 16. D.C. United. Sept. 20. Philadelphia. Sept. 23. at FC Cincinnati. Sept. 30. at New England. Oct. 4. Toronto FC. Oct. 7. at Chicago. Oct. 18. at Inter Miami. Oct. 21. Inter Miami.

21. (17) Sporting KC (8-12-8)
Last week: 2-3 at Inter Miami.

• How hot was it in Fort Lauderdale for the match against Inter Milan? "Honestly, most guys were saying they've never played in humidity like this," said Sporting KC forward Daniel Salloi. "I'm already skinny, but I think I lost, like, 15 pounds. So it's not easy, but that's not an excuse. It's one of those that just makes it more difficult."

Remaining games (6): Sept. 16. at Minnesota United. Sept. 20. Nashville SC. Sept. 23. Houston. Sept. 30. at Saint Louis City. Oct. 7. at Real Salt Lake. Oct. 21. Minnesota United.

22. (22) CF Montreal (11-14-2)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. Chicago. Sept. 20. FC Cincinnati. Sept. 23. at Atlanta United. Sept. 30. at Orlando City. Oct. 4. Houston. Oct. 7. Portland. Oct. 21. at Columbus.

23. (23) D.C. United (9-12-7)
Last week: 0-0 vs. San Jose.

• D.C. United has not won back-to-back games at Audi Field since May 2022.

Remaining games (6): Sept. 16. at Charlotte FC. Sept. 20. Atlanta United. Sept. 23. NY Red Bulls. Sept. 30. at Vancouver. Oct. 4. at Austin FC. Oct. 7. NYCFC.

24. (26) Portland (8-11-9)
Last week: 2-0 vs. LAFC.

• The Timbers are 2-0-1 in their last three games under interim coach Miles Joseph  to move within one point of FC Dallas for the ninth and final playoff spot.

Remaining games (6): Sept. 17. at Austin United. Sept. 20. San Jose. Sept. 23. Colorado. Sept. 30. at LA Galaxy. Oct. 7. at CF Montreal. Oct. 21. Houston.

25. (24) Chicago (8-11-8)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. at CF Montreal. Sept. 20. at Columbus. Sept. 23. New England. Sept. 30. at NY Red Bulls. Oct. 4. Inter Miami. Oct. 7. Charlotte FC. Oct. 21. at NYCFC.

26. (25) NYCFC (6-10-12)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (6): Sept. 16. NY Red Bulls. Sept. 20. Orlando City. Sept. 23. Toronto FC. Sept. 30. at Inter Miami. Oct. 7. at D.C. United. Oct. 21. Chicago.

27. (27) NY Red Bulls (7-12-8)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. at NYCFC. Sept. 20. Austin United. Sept. 23. D.C. United. Sept. 30. Chicago. Oct. 4. at FC Cincinnati. Oct. 7. Toronto FC. Oct. 21. at Nashville SC.

28. (28) Toronto FC (4-13-10)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (7): Sept. 16. Vancouver. Sept. 20. at Inter Miami. Sept. 23. at NYCFC. Sept. 30. FC Cincinnati. Oct. 4. at Charlotte FC. Oct. 7. at NY Red Bulls. Oct. 21. Orlando City.

29. (28) Colorado (3-13-10)
Last week: off.

Remaining games (8): Sept. 16. New England. Sept. 20. Seattle. Sept. 23. at Portland. Sept. 27. Vancouver. Sept. 30. Austin United. Oct. 4. at FC Dallas. Oct. 7. at Houston. Oct. 21. Real Salt Lake.