MLS Power Rankings, Week 9: Swap at the top after Dallas, Portland draw
Welcome to the 2017 MLS Power Rankings, where we rank each team after each week with consideration to form, latest results, stats, and some other intangibles to try and craft an idea of how things stand in one single table.
Here's how each team ranks after Week 9 of the 2017 season:
1. FC Dallas (+1)
- Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Portland Timbers
- Next MLS Match: May 6 at Real Salt Lake (9:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-0-3 | 10 | 5 |
FC Dallas came from behind to secure a draw against western division heavyweights Portland and remain the only undefeated team in 2017.
2. Portland Timbers (-1)
- Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. FC Dallas
- Next MLS Match: May 6 at San Jose (10:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 5-2-2 | 20 | 12 |
The Portland Timbers could have taken all three points out of Dallas but failed to muster the sort of defense needed to stop the raging bulls in their tracks.
3. Orlando City (-)
- Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids
- Next MLS Match: May 3 at Toronto (7:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 6-1-0 | 10 | 5 |
Orlando City continues to dominate at home and with Kaka now back in the fold, Jason Kreis' side looks a top contender in the east.
Related - Watch: Rivas blasts home rocket to sink slumping Rapids
4. Toronto FC (+1)
- Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Chicago Fire
- Next MLS Match: May 3 vs. Orlando (7:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 3-1-4 | 12 | 7 |
Toronto FC put in one of its most complete performances ever against Houston on the back of a strong one-two performance from its strike duo up top.
5. Sporting Kansas City (+2)
- Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Real Salt Lake
- Next MLS Match: May 3 vs. NY Red Bulls (8:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-1-3 | 9 | 3 |
Sporting Kansas City has conceded just three times thus far in 2017. What!?
6. New York Red Bulls (-)
- Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Chicago Fire
- Next MLS Match: May 3 at Sporting KC (8:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 5-3-1 | 11 | 10 |
If the New York Red Bulls continue picking up three points as consistently as it has, a Supporters' Shield isn't too far off.
7. Atlanta United (-3)
- Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. D.C. United
- Next MLS Match: May 7 at NYCFC (4:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 3-3-2 | 18 | 11 |
A touch of lethargy crept into Atlanta United, and D.C. made them pay for it. Tata Martino will want for more as listlessness is a recipe for disaster in MLS.
8. New York City FC (+1)
- Last Week: 3-2 win vs. Columbus Crew
- Next MLS Match: May 7 vs. Atlanta (4:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-3-1 | 14 | 9 |
New York City FC proved good value against Columbus courtesy of young star Jack Harrison, who rescued the day with his 76th-minute game winner.
9. Seattle Sounders (-1)
- Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. New England Revolution
- Next MLS Match: May 6 vs. Toronto (3:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-2-4 | 14 | 11 |
The Seattle Sounders will want to brush this draw aside and look forward to an MLS Cup rematch against Toronto. Can Seattle take a shot on goal this time?
10. Houston Dynamo (-)
- Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Toronto FC
- Next MLS Match: May 6 vs. Orlando
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-3-1 | 15 | 13 |
We're willing to give the Houston Dynamo the benefit of the doubt after a loss against the Reds. A strong showing against the Lions would do wonders here.
11. Chicago Fire (-)
- Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. NY Red Bulls
- Next MLS Match: May 6 at LA Galaxy (10:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 3-3-2 | 11 | 12 |
The Chicago Fire couldn't vindicate Dax McCarty in a trip to Red Bull Arena but will look to an upcoming match against the slumping Galaxy for a turnaround.
Related - Watch: McCarty's hard-earned assist not enough for Red Bulls revenge
12. New England Revolution (+1)
- Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. Seattle Sounders
- Next MLS Match: May 6 at Columbus (7:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3-4 | 14 | 14 |
A draw against the MLS Cup champions is not half bad for the New England Revolution, even if the team did give up its lead with two minutes remaining.
13. D.C. United (+2)
- Last Week: 3-1 win vs. Atlanta United
- Next MLS Match: May 6 vs. Montreal (6:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 3-3-2 | 9 | 13 |
Well then! Welcome back, Luciano Acosta. This No. 10 helped D.C. United to a great win over Atlanta, and that momentum should carry over to Montreal.
14. Columbus Crew (-2)
- Last Week: 3-2 loss vs. New York City FC
- Next MLS Match: May 6 vs. New England (7:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 4-4-1 | 13 | 13 |
It was not a fun trip north for the Columbus Crew last week against the Red Bulls and revenge against the Big Apple didn't come against NYCFC, either.
15. San Jose Earthquakes (-1)
- Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Minnesota United
- Next MLS Match: May 6 vs. Portland (10:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 3-3-3 | 9 | 10 |
The San Jose Earthquakes remain so perfectly average, so ordinary, that it's hard to really get excited about this team. A 1-0 win over the Loons says it all.
16. Vancouver Whitecaps (+3)
- Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Montreal Impact
- Next MLS Match: May 5 at Colorado (10:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4-1 | 11 | 14 |
The Vancouver Whitecaps got the better of Canadian rival Montreal by way of a brilliant Andrew Jacobson-inspired goal. Not too shabby.
Related - Watch: Jacobson scores incredible volley, gets slapped by teammate
17. Montreal Impact (-1)
- Last Week: 2-1 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
- Next MLS Match: May 6 at D.C. United (6:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3-4 | 11 | 14 |
The Montreal Impact needs help scoring goals, a problem that could be solved, at least in theory, by someone like, say, Bologna striker Blerim Dzemaili?
17. Real Salt Lake (+1)
- Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Sporting Kansas City
- Next MLS Match: May 6 vs. FC Dallas (9:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-5-2 | 9 | 15 |
Don't mistake this move up as anything other than the Galaxy dropping below. Real Salt Lake endured successive wallopings and now faces Dallas.
18. LA Galaxy (-1)
- Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. Philadelphia Union
- Next MLS Match: May 6 vs. Chicago (10:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-5-1 | 8 | 13 |
Hey, a draw is better than a loss for LA Galaxy, at least.
20. Minnesota United (-)
- Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. San Jose Earthquakes
- Next MLS Match: May 7 vs. Sporting KC (1:30 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 2-5-2 | 13 | 25 |
Minnesota United and Atlanta started off with such different narratives, but in the last five matches, the Loons have two wins ... Atlanta, just the one.
21. Colorado Rapids (-)
- Last Week: 2-0 loss vs. Orlando City
- Next MLS Match: May 5 vs. Vancouver (10:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5-1 | 5 | 11 |
Paging the Colorado Rapids of 2016 - anyone there? Hello?
22. Philadelphia Union (-)
- Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. LA Galaxy
- Next MLS Match: May 6 vs. NY Red Bulls (7:00 p.m. ET)
| Record (W-L-D) | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4-4 | 8 | 14 |
Four losses, four draws, and no wins spell the story of the Philadelphia Union of 2017. Jim Curtin's on the hot seat as futility records loom around the corner.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
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