MLS Power Rankings - Week 12: Columbus vaults Atlanta for top spot

Welcome to the 2018 MLS Power Rankings, where theScore ranks each team after each week with consideration to form, latest results, stats, and other intangibles to craft an idea of how things stand in one single table.

Here's how each team ranks after Week 12:

1. Columbus Crew SC ▲

• Last Week: 1-0 win at New England Revolution
• Next Match: May 27 at Sporting Kansas City

The Columbus Crew have taken 14 points from their last possible 18, and on Saturday shut down a New England Revolution side recently buoyed by a 3-2 win over reigning MLS Cup champion Toronto FC. The likeable and generously coiffed Lalas Abubakar headed in the 85th-minute winner for Columbus.

2. Atlanta United ▼

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. New York Red Bulls
• Next Match: May 30 vs. Atlanta United

Troubles in paradise as Atlanta United has lost two of three, and while the 10-man defeat at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to Red Bulls may be simplified by Greg Garza's sending off, Tata Martino's men were well beaten by then, conceding a Bradley Wright-Phillips brace shortly after the interval.

3. Sporting Kansas City (–)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw at Minnesota United
• Next Match: May 27 vs. Columbus Crew

Peter Vermes will be far from elated that his side couldn't capitalize on an early advantage in a 1-1 stalemate at Minnesota United, though Sporting Kansas City continues to sit atop the Western Conference standings with seven victories and three draws in its last 11.

4. New York Red Bulls ▲

• Last Week: 3-1 win at Atlanta United
• Next Match: June 3 at New England Revolution

Goal differential is often a good indicator of a team's quality, and with an MLS-best plus-14 differential, Red Bulls appear set for the long haul, especially after outclassing a talented Atlanta side on the road for a fourth win on the bounce. BWP now sits joint-tops with eight goals.

5. Los Angeles FC ▼

• Last Week: 2-1 loss at Portland Timbers
• Next Match: May 26 vs. D.C. United

LAFC's trip to Portland had the feeling of a heavyweight clash given the sides' recent form, but the host overcame the MLS newcomer with goals from Cristhian Paredes and Samuel Armenteros. At least Carlos Vela pocketed another stunning goal for Bob Bradley's throng.

6. Portland Timbers ▲

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. LAFC
• Next Match: May 26 at Colorado Rapids

Five straight league wins have propelled the Portland Timbers up the standings, and they overcame Los Angeles FC on Saturday with what defender Zarek Valentin dubbed "a complete team performance." Can Portland establish itself as a dominant team in the west?

7. New York City FC ▲

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next Match: May 25 at Houston Dynamo

A day dedicated to the brilliance of David Villa yielded a 4-0 bashing of the Colorado Rapids. NYCFC manager Patrick Vieira has been linked with a variety of roles lately - be it at his former club Arsenal or overseeing outfits in France - but amid the rumors he is steering his side to yet another postseason foray.

8. FC Dallas ▼

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next Match: May 26 at Toronto FC

How to blow a certain victory in two straightforward steps: 1) Score an own goal in the 82nd minute; 2) Concede a penalty in the seventh minute of extra time. FC Dallas 'keeper Jimmy Maurer won't be putting this display on his CV.

9. Orlando City ▼

• Last Week: 2-1 loss at Toronto FC
• Next Match: May 27 vs. Chicago Fire

Orlando City will be disappointed that it couldn't secure a road point, especially against a makeshift Toronto FC squad littered with reserves. That's now two defeats on the spin after an impressive six-match winning streak with three of the next four coming away from the Sunshine State.

10. Vancouver Whitecaps ▲

• Last week: 2-2 draw at San Jose, 2-2 draw at FC Dallas
• Next match: May 26 vs. New England Revolution

Vancouver's busy week included a pair of 2-2 draws on the heels of a 2-2 stalemate with Houston, with one coming against a good Dallas side, the other versus a lifeless Earthquakes outfit as Carl Robinson's charges jump a spot in the rankings courtesy of the two thrilling late goals at the Toyota Stadium.

11. New England Revolution ▼

• Last Week: 1-0 loss at Columbus Crew
• Next Match: May 26 at Vancouver Whitecaps

Lalas Abubakar's late headed winner ended 84 minutes of scoreless football on Saturday in New England as the Revs continue to alternate good results with undesirable ones, pairing three defeats with two victories and a draw in their last six outings.

12. Houston Dynamo ▲

• Last Week: 3-2 win at Chicago Fire
• Next Match: May 26 vs. New York City FC

The Houston Dynamo's 2.3 goals-per-game is second-best in the MLS to the New York Red Bulls, and some of that is due to Alberth Elis, whose fifth and sixth goals of the season capped off a stunning come-from-behind victory on Sunday in Chicago.

13. Philadelphia Union ▲

• Last Week: 4-1 win vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next Match: May 26 at New York Red Bulls

Back-to-back wins for the Philadelphia Union wasn't enough for Alejandro Bedoya who thought "the first half, we could've killed the game off easily." But it was an impressive showing from the Union, who were better than Real Salt Lake in every meaningful aspect of the game.

14. Minnesota United ▲

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Sporting Kansas City
• Next Match: May 27 vs. Montreal Impact

After going the first 11 matches of the season without a draw, the Loons finally registered one against Sporting KC courtesy of Khiry Shelton's first goal in a Minnesota United strip after two defeats on the spin. Things can only improve with a horrid Montreal side set to visit the TCF Bank Stadium.

15. Toronto FC ▲

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Orlando City
• Next Match: May 25 vs. FC Dallas

It's only May, but Friday evening's match against Orlando City had the feel of a must-win game for Toronto FC. Greg Vanney's men prevailed through an unlikely source when Mississauga lad Ryan Telfer volleyed home the winner after 87 minutes.

16. Real Salt Lake ▼

• Last Week: 4-1 loss at Philadelphia Union
• Next Match: May 26 at Seattle Sounders

Hemorrhaging goals at an impressive pace, Real Salt Lake was on the wrong side of a beatdown in Philly to give Mike Petke's lot a third defeat in four and a fifth successive away loss. In their last six matches, Salt Lake has been outscored 14-8.

17. LA Galaxy (–)

• Last week: 1-0 win at Montreal Impact
• Next Match: May 26 at San Jose Earthquakes

On the heels of four successive drab defeats, the Galaxy were the inferior side Sunday in Montreal, had Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off and were outshot 22-7. Thank goodness for the team's star Scandinavian striker - no, not him - Ola Kamara, who continues to play like a DP without the title.

18. Chicago Fire ▼

• Last Week: 3-2 loss vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next Match: May 26 at Orlando City

An entertaining to-and-fro encounter with the Houston Dynamo didn't fall in Chicago's favor, allowing the Texans their first win at Toyota Park in eight regular-season tussles. The Fire should have few complaints, however, after Houston hit over double its shots with 13 efforts in total.

19. Seattle Sounders (–)

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next Match: May 26 vs. Real Salt Lake

Not a whole heck of a lot happened with the Sounders this past week, though Nicolas Lodeiro (Uruguay) and Gustav Svensson (Sweden) were handed World Cup spots, and Ozzie Alonso threw out the first pitch at the Mariners game. Anything is better than 50 Cent's attempt.

20. D.C. United ▲

• Last Week: 3-1 win at San Jose Earthquakes
• Next Match: May 26 at LAFC

In a meeting between two of the more underwhelming MLS teams, D.C. United recorded its first away win of the campaign at the expense of the San Jose Earthquakes. United was outshot in the capital, but was able to keep San Jose at arm's length for much of the game due to racing into a 3-0 lead after just 37 minutes.

21. Montreal Impact ▼

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. LA Galaxy
• Next Match: May 27 at Minnesota United

Leave it to the Montreal Impact to outplay 10-man Galaxy after Ibrahimovic was sent off for slapping Michael Petrasso minutes before the break, and lose. That's now a league-worst nine defeats for the Impact as Remi Garde has Aston Villa flashbacks.

22. San Jose Earthquakes (–)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw at Vancouver Whitecaps, 3-1 loss vs. D.C. United
• Next Match: May 25 at LA Galaxy

San Jose's inexcusable start to D.C. United's visit left it with a mountain impossible to scale. Promises of a new era for the franchise look a mere pipe dream, and various members of the Quakes' coaching and playing staff felt obliged to apologize to fans after Saturday's 3-1 defeat.

23. Colorado Rapids ▼

• Last Week: 4-0 loss at NYCFC
• Next Match: May 26 vs. Portland Timbers

In three visits to Yankee Stadium, Colorado has lost to an aggregate score of 10-1, but hope that Anthony Hudson's side can turn it around on the back of five losses on the trot will be taken from the fixture list: Four of the club's next five games are at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)