2016 MLS Power Rankings: Week 8
Week 8 of the 2016 MLS season saw a relatively smooth round of action with some straightforward results and plenty of goals across the board.
The New York Red Bulls earned a rare win and Bradley Wright-Phillips found the back of the net at last; the Colorado Rapids continued their climb with a 3-2 win over the Seattle Sounders; on the other end, Sporting Kansas City fell for a third time in a row, this time against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Highlighting the week, the LA Galaxy routed Real Salt Lake 5-2, and Toronto FC got the better of the Montreal Impact in the first 401 Derby match of the season. Here's how each team ranks this week:
1. LA Galaxy (+4)
- Last Week: 5-2 win vs. Real Salt Lake
- Next MLS Match: Sunday, May 1 at Sporting KC (8:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-1-2 | 17 | 7 |
A 5-2 win over RSL isn't even scary; the fact that this already-dominant team still has Robbie Keane waiting to return is.
Related - Watch: Steven Gerrard humiliates Real Salt Lake's defense before scoring
2. Toronto FC (+4)
- Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Montreal Impact
- Next MLS Match: Sunday, May 1 at Portland (3:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 3-2-2 | 8 | 5 |
Toronto FC's win over the Montreal Impact was, perhaps, the most complete performance in the club's history. The Reds have conceded a league-low five goals, too.
Related - Watch: Giovinco equals club record for league goals with brace vs. Montreal
3. FC Dallas (-1)
- Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
- Next MLS Match: Friday, April 29 at NY Red Bulls (7:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 5-2-2 | 15 | 13 |
We want to believe that FC Dallas will rebound from a drubbing by the Whitecaps but these multi-goal losses are somewhat concerning.
4. Real Salt Lake (-3)
- Last Week: 5-2 loss vs. LA Galaxy
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 vs. Houston (9:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-1-2 | 12 | 11 |
RSL's inefficiencies were highlighted once again as the Galaxy tore apart the team's slow defenders and lack of penetrative options in midfield.
5. Montreal Impact (-1)
- Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Toronto FC
- Next MLS Match: Wednesday, April 27 at NYCFC (7:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-3-0 | 10 | 8 |
Montreal's success with Didier Drogba relies on maximizing his offensive output, and against Toronto, the star striker mustered but one shot.
6. Sporting Kansas City (-3)
- Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. San Jose Earthquakes
- Next MLS Match: Wednesday, April 27 at Vancouver (10:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-4-0 | 9 | 8 |
Sporting Kansas City might be one of the best teams in the league but three losses in a row isn't easily ignored.
7. Philadelphia Union (+1)
- Last Week: 2-0 win vs. New York City FC
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 vs. San Jose (4:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-3-0 | 10 | 7 |
The Philadelphia Union might just be a dark horse team in 2016. Sitting atop the East with four wins certainly makes them the most improved side.
8. Orlando City (-1)
- Last Week: 3-2 loss vs. New York Red Bulls
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 at New England (7:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-2-3 | 13 | 11 |
Without Kaka, Orlando still fares well but Adrian Heath's job is finding consistency, and getting his team defending on the same page. How about Julio Baptista though?
When you make your kit look like a muscle shirt. #TheBeast pic.twitter.com/HryPCAspGs
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) April 25, 2016
9. San Jose Earthquakes (+2)
- Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Sporting Kansas City
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 at Philadelphia (4:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-2-2 | 11 | 10 |
Another sleeper team, the San Jose Earthquakes keep swimming along with victories courtesy of Chris Wondolowski. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.
Related: Wondolowski, Bingham lead Quakes past Sporting Kansas City
10. Portland Timbers (-)
- Last Week: Bye Week
- Next MLS Match: Wednesday, April 27 at New England (7:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3-2 | 11 | 14 |
The MLS Cup champs had a bye week this week ... how about those Thorns?
11. Colorado Rapids (+2)
- Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Seattle Sounders
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 at Montreal (4:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 5-2-1 | 10 | 6 |
Boy are the Rapids ever on the rise. Somewhere in a desert pit, a wise old man points to the sky and says "make the climb ... without the rope."
12. Vancouver Whitecaps (-)
- Last Week: 3-0 win vs. FC Dallas
- Next MLS Match: Wednesday, April 27 vs. Sporting KC (10:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4-1 | 9 | 11 |
A nice little 3-0 win over FC Dallas and Vancouver is grooving once again. But there's still work to be done for Carl Robinson's men.
13. New England Revolution (-4)
- Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. D.C. United
- Next MLS Match: Wednesday, April 27 vs. Portland (7:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2-5 | 8 | 13 |
The Revs have only one win in eight games and while five draws are good, a 3-0 loss to D.C. United certainly is not.
14. Columbus Crew (+2)
- Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Houston Dynamo
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 at Seattle (4:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3-2 | 7 | 9 |
The Crew look like they've finally shaken off those MLS Cup Final blues and Kei Kamara and co. are feasting once more.
15. New York Red Bulls (+4)
- Last Week: 3-2 win vs. Orlando City
- Next MLS Match: Friday, April 29 vs. FC Dallas (7:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-6-0 | 8 | 17 |
Now that's more like it! BWP got his toe on the end of a shot that was already going in and, just like that, his scoring touch returned. Minutes later, he buried home an effort of his own making and the Red Bulls won at last.
One more for the Metro. #REDTogether#RBNY #NYvORL pic.twitter.com/8j1Jl4dBm1
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) April 25, 2016
16. D.C. United (+3)
- Last Week: 3-0 win vs. New England Revolution
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 at Chicago (5:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3-3 | 10 | 10 |
Luciano Acosta is a live wire and there will certainly be questions regarding a starting spot but losing Fabian Espindola to a hamstring injury at this time is a bit of a roadblock for Ben Olsen's side.
17. Chicago Fire (-)
- Last Week: Bye Week
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 vs. D.C. United (5:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2-3 | 6 | 7 |
The Chicago Fire did not play this week but NBC's hit show "Chicago Fire" brought all the feels instead.
18. Seattle Sounders (-3)
- Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Colorado Rapids
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 vs. Columbus (4:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-4-1 | 7 | 10 |
Jordan Morris is scoring, which is nice. Too bad Seattle isn't winning.
19. New York City FC (-5)
- Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Philadelphia Union
- Next MLS Match: Wednesday, April 27 vs. Montreal (7:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3-3 | 9 | 12 |
We've given NYCFC the benefit of the doubt time after time this season but there have been no improvements. Worse yet, head coach Patrick Vieira seems to be watching a whole other team playing:
Here's the bizarre exchange between Patrick Vieira and a reporter in his post game press conference: pic.twitter.com/T7mHlCJsxi
— Kevin Kinkead (@KevinKCBS3) April 24, 2016
20. Houston Dynamo (-2)
- Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Columbus Crew
- Next MLS Match: Saturday, April 30 at Real Salt Lake (9:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4-2 | 13 | 14 |
That 5-1 win over FC Dallas might just be the only highlight of the season for the Dynamo. This team does not look good.
Related: Top 5 goals from MLS Week 8