MLS Power Rankings, Week 1: Seattle on top after dominant win

Pretty good way to kick off the 20th season, huh? 

Seattle obliterated an undermanned New England side, Toronto FC looked very promising with their new cast of stars, and Orlando was awash with purple for the most intriguing match of the weekend.

Hopefully it's this good all season. Dreams are fun.

1. Seattle Sounders

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. New England
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. San Jose (10 PM EST)

Deuce and Oba. Oba and Deuce. The rest of MLS bows down to you. I see you too, Marco Pappa. 

2. LA Galaxy

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Chicago
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, March 15 vs. Portland (7 PM EST)

It wasn't pretty, but the Galaxy got the job done against a woeful Chicago Fire side. Jose Villarreal and Stefan Ishizaki looked good on the wings, and Robbie Keane got on the scoresheet. More importantly, we learned that Landon Donovan's Spanish is impeccable. His tie knots need some work, though.

3. Toronto FC

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Vancouver
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. Columbus (7:30 PM EST) 

Sebastian Giovinco got his first MLS assist and Jozy Altidore exceeded his production during his ill-fated time at Sunderland with two goals - including a Panenka penalty. More importantly, he was (partly) responsible for the greatest photo ever.

(Photo courtesy: Duncan Nicol)

4. Columbus Crew

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Houston
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. Toronto FC (7:30 PM EST) 

The Crew were by far the better team last week against the Dynamo, and would be kicking back with a victory in tow had Tyler Deric not channeled his inner Nick Rimando. It happens. You just have to move on.

5. FC Dallas

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. San Jose
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. Sporting Kansas City (8:30 PM EST)

It wasn't the destruction that many expected - far from it - but Blas Perez's late goal got FC Dallas off to a winning start. That's more than most teams in the league can say after their opening contest. Just win, baby.

6. D.C. United

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Montreal
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, March 22 vs. New York Red Bulls (5 PM EST)

Where are the goals going to come from while Fabian Espindola serves his suspension? Jairo Arrieta knew all along ...

Was he being literal? It looks that way after one match.

7. Real Salt Lake

• Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. Portland
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. Philadelphia (9:30 PM EST)

The defense looks solid led by the league's best 'keeper, Nick Rimando. Now, if only Jeff Cassar could figure something out with the attack.

8. Sporting Kansas City

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. New York Red Bulls 
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. FC Dallas (8:30 PM EST)

Dom Dwyer couldn't summon the magic of last season this past weekend, spurning a pair of wonderful chances, but the struggles of Matt Besler - who was sent off in the second half - are far more concerning. At the very least, they can take solace in the fact that only a moment of magic from Lloyd Sam could breach their defense.

9. Portland Timbers

• Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, March 15 vs. LA Galaxy (7 PM EST)

Caleb Porter must really hate Nick Rimando. (I really enjoy saying Nick Rimando, hence all the Nick Rimando references thus far).

PS: Nick. Rimando.

(Courtesy: @FootyMLS)

10. New England

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Seattle
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, March 15 vs. New England (5 PM EST)

Losing to arguably the best team in the league at CenturyLink Field while missing your two best players (Jermaine Jones and Lee Nguyen) is not something to be overly concerned about after just one match. New England will be just fine.

11. Orlando City

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: Friday, March 13 vs. Houston (7 PM EST)

Seeing the Citrus Bowl packed with some 62,000 purple-clad supporters was wonderful. Seeing Kaka score the club's first-ever MLS goal - with the help of a massive deflection, in fairness - was even better. That they couldn't collect all three points was a disappointment, but hey, Brek Shea eviscerated another human being in broad daylight:

12. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. Chicago (6 PM EST)

The Whitecaps, aided by Toronto FC's odd decision to utilize a high line in the opening half, should have put the game away after 45 minutes. The chances were plentiful, including an Octavio Rivero miss that will give the Uruguayan nightmares. In fairness, he did bounce back to score a wonderful goal, but it wasn't enough to overcome some poor defending in the second half. Some good signs, but plenty to work on for Carl Robinson.

13. Houston Dynamo

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Columbus
• Next MLS Match: Friday, March 13 vs. Orlando City (7 PM EST)

"Owen Coyle wins first MLS match, shows that UK managers are too good for North America" is a headline that, frankly, I'm surprised hasn't been used by the British tabloids yet. It's still early.

14. New York City FC

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Orlando City 
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, March 15 vs. New England (5 PM EST)

Mix Diskerud's goal was wonderful, and he made it look so easy. Telling him apart from Ned Grabavoy, however, was not so simple. 

15. New York Red Bulls

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Sporting Kansas City
• Next MLS Match: Sunday, March 22 vs. DC United (5 PM)

This cut by Lloyd Sam, which opened the space for his curling strike that proved to be the team's only goal, was filthy. With a capital F.

16. Montreal Impact

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. D.C. united
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 21 vs. New England (3 PM EST)

Worse than the loss to open the season was the stomach-turning injury suffered by Justin Mapp, who dislocated his elbow after a collision with Bill Hamid. The reaction of the D.C. United 'keeper said it all.

17. Philadelphia Union

• Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. Colorado 
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. Real Salt Lake (9:30 PM EST)

Having a legitimate penalty claim turned away, being stymied by the opposing goalkeeper and then finally beating him only to get turned away by his skinny white friend. Philadelphia's season-opening draw against a clearly inferior Colorado side will be bitterly disappointing for Jim Curtin.

18. San Jose Earthquakes

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. FC Dallas 
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. Seattle (10 PM EST)

It's going to be a long season for Dominic Kinnear. If only they were in the Eastern Conference, maybe things would be more promising.

Alas, here we are.

19. Colorado Rapids

• Last Week: 0-0 draw Philadelphia
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 21 vs. New York City FC (4 PM EST)

Pablo Mastroeni's moustache is the best thing about this team.

20. Chicago Fire

• Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: Saturday, March 14 vs. Vancouver (6 PM EST)

Woof. That is all.