Power Rankings, 1-30 | Matchday 15
Orlando's charge is real, and the Galaxy's fall is real spectacular
I probably should’ve started my Sunday column with this observation: USMNT Gold Cup call-ins got some sort of confidence buff. Luca de la Torre got a nicely worked goal, and Quinn Sullivan scored a banger. Diego Luna had a goal and an assist, while Brian White had a brace in the same game. Pat Ageymang also had a brace.
Seb Berhalter had an assist. So did Jack McGlynn, and so did DeJuan Jones. Alex Freeman probably should’ve had one, but Orlando’s forwards couldn’t stop straying offside.
This all has me kind of jacked about the US again, for the first time in a while. Luna is obviously the headliner – there’s a legit chance he’s the starting No. 10 for the US at next summer’s World Cup – but everyone I listed above is making a claim of some sort.
It’s awesome. This core, young as it is, very clearly needs new blood and xDAWG. The MLS-based contingent seems ready to bring it.
Anyway, here’s the Sunday column:
• Charlotte's star connection, Seattle's focal point & more from Matchday 15
As always, clicks are appreciated.
Now, here’s my vote for this week’s MLSsoccer.com Power Rankings:
Vancouver Whitecaps: White’s the MVP to this point in the season. The ‘Caps, collectively, need to play their best game of the year this coming weekend in Mexico if they’re going to win a trophy.
Philadelphia Union: Got a nice long unbeaten run, though once again they faced a good-ish team and failed to put them away.1
Orlando City: Big jump, but I’m officially bought in, even after the midweek USOC loss at Nashville. Oscar Pareja’s been able to figure out attack/defense balance in the new game model (thanks in large part to Freeman), and with Eduard Atuesta back, it feels like this unbeaten run could continue for a while.
San Diego FC: The unbeaten run hits five, and the performances remain convincing.
Columbus Crew: Got battered this weekend, saw their DotY limp off injured, and still haven’t gotten Daniel Gazdag untracked. Haven’t won in a month, but four of their next five are at home.
LAFC: “Win at home, draw on the road” is a good M.O., and a promising one with seven of their next 10 – through the end of July – at home.2
FC Cincinnati: Pretty disastrous showing. The talent’s there, but the ability to control games with the ball is still missing. It should get better over the course of the season – I’d wager on it – but it’s been ugly at times,3 even if the results have been mostly good.
Nashville SC: This team plays beautiful, winning soccer and eighth might be too low. Five of the next seven on the road, though, so we’ll see how sustainable this is.
Minnesota United: That was the exact type of game they’ve got to figure out how to win more consistently if they want to climb into the top five.
Seattle Sounders: Played pretty well, but they need one of those 9s to stay healthy. And the center back depth is being tested, isn’t it?
NYCFC: This team’s been all over the shop, but much more good than bad over the past month-and-a-half. Just need a consistent secondary goalscorer to emerge.
Inter Miami: Good rally back for the point. Desperation actually suits them, because when they’re feeling it they play with purpose. That’s been missing.
New England Revolution: Now unbeaten in seven since the switch to the 3-4-1-2, though the defense has been more vulnerable over the past few weeks than it looked at the start of this stretch.
Portland Timbers: May’s been unkind, with one win in five MLS outings, a midweek USOC elimination at San Jose and underlying numbers headed in the wrong direction.
San Jose Earthquakes: They’re not going to win games without Daniel, I guess.
Houston Dynamo: Not a great performance, but a great point. And this team’s much better than they were to start the season. Ben Olsen’s once again doing a hell of a job.4
RBNY: First road win of the year. With the next two at home, the opportunity’s there to make this a nine-point week.
CSKA Charlotte: Badly needed that one. It’s clear this team’s a lot more comfortable when facing an opponent that wants 60% possession.
Chicago Fire: Gorgeous goal followed by some self-sabotage. Even before the red, though, they were looking vulnerable.
Sporting KC: 3W-3L-3D since Kerry Zavagnin took over, and a lot of fun soccer.
Colorado Rapids: Getting Ted Ku-DiPietro healthy has helped, but there’s still a bit of disorganization happening through central midfield.
Austin FC: A good, rugged point.
Toronto FC: Were clearly second-best throughout.
FC Dallas: A tough week, and a tough couple of months. Haven’t beaten a full-strength MLS opponent since late March.
Atlanta United: A sign that things are about to change, or an aberration?
RSL: It’s all come apart. At least Zavier Gozo’s fun.
CF Montreal: Only one loss in four, but they just don’t have the horses.
D.C. United: Not much to say about this.
St. Louis City: Hey, at least the second team’s fun!
LA Galaxy: Closing in on the single-season winless skid (16) and the all-time winless skid (18, held by two teams and in each case set across two seasons). What a legendary fall from the mountaintop.
When good teams get desperate and match Philly’s intensity, they lack the overall talent to go out and win the game anyway. We’ve seen that repeatedly against the likes of Miami, Columbus, etc. That said, I still think this team is likely to finish top 5 in the Shield race.
The CWC game vs. Club America should be fun, but it’s not one I’d expect them to win. As a matter of fact it’s the exact type of game LAFC have made a habit of losing because of their propensity for playing scared.
The underlying numbers are EXTREMELY concerned about Cincy. Go to FBRef or American Soccer Analysis and check ‘em out for yourself.
Seriously, I thought they were dead a month-and-a-half ago. But moving Jack McGlynn to the 10 (WHICH I ASKED FOR, THAT WAS ME, I DID THAT!!) and getting a few new pieces in has really put them on an upward trajectory. Nice work by Pat Onstad.