MLS Power Rankings - Week 13: Red-hot Timbers continue rapid rise

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 13:

1. Columbus Crew SC (–)

• Last Week: 0-0 draw at Sporting Kansas City
• Next Match: June 2 vs. Toronto FC

The Crew notched a vital 0-0 draw at Sporting KC on Sunday to claim a share of the Supporters' Shield lead. Down a man for the second half after Federico Higuain's flying studs-up challenge, Columbus stymied the home side and blocked shots en route to a point. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen also produced key saves to continue his stellar season.

2. Atlanta United (–)

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next Match: May 30 vs. New England Revolution

Tata Martino's charges were gifted a brief reprieve from a hectic schedule which saw Atlanta play four matches in 15 days, a stretch that witnessed the Eastern Conference co-leader drop home results to Sporting KC and New York Red Bulls, going down to 10 men in both tilts.

3. Portland Timbers ▲

• Last Week: 3-2 win vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next Match: June 2 vs. LA Galaxy

Samuel Armenteros is the man of the hour. A week after scoring the clincher against Los Angeles FC, the Argentinian struck a brace to give the Portland Timbers a sixth consecutive victory. Portland can build on its franchise-best winning streak with further victories at home against the LA Galaxy and Sporting KC before the nine-day World Cup break.

4. Sporting Kansas City ▼

• Last Week: 0-0 vs. Columbus Crew SC
• Next Match: June 3 vs. Minnesota United

What a missed opportunity. Despite the numerical advantage versus Columbus, Sporting KC could only produce a measly three shots on target. Peter Vermes' men have scored just four goals in their last five MLS matches, but continue to sit atop the Western Conference thanks to four clean sheets in six.

5. New York Red Bulls ▼

• Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. Philadelphia Union
• Next Match: June 3 at New England Revolution

New York's four-match winning streak ended with a scoreless draw against the Philadelphia Union, though it could have been worse had C.J. Sapong not missed the net from the spot in the second half. After bagging a dozen goals in their previous four outings, Red Bulls were shut out for just the second time this season. Ryan Meara had a nice outing.

6. FC Dallas ▲

• Last Week: 1-0 win at Toronto FC
• Next Match: May 30 at LA Galaxy

All the credit goes to FC Dallas 'keeper Jesse Gonzalez, who made fantastic saves in the first half of last Friday's 1-0 win over Toronto FC. The birthday boy recorded nine saves in total, including a telepathic read on Sebastian Giovinco's penalty. Dallas may struggle to score, but one-goal victories suit it just fine. That's now four matches unbeaten for Oscar Pareja's side.

7. Los Angeles FC ▼

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. D.C. United
• Next Match: June 2 at FC Dallas

Bob Bradley's side is now winless in three after playing the second stanza of the draw with D.C. United a man short, and it was probably the deserved result as Darren Mattocks' 84th-minute equalizer on the break canceled out Diego Rossi's fortuitous first-half finish. A visit to a Dallas side that has yet to lose at home looms for the expansion outfit.

8. Houston Dynamo ▲

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. New York City FC
• Next Match: May 30 at Real Salt Lake

Houston can now boast the joint-best attack in MLS after a comeback 3-1 success over New York City FC. The Dynamo struggled to start the season but have developed a knack for playing big against the league's elite, posting wins against Atlanta United, Toronto, and now NYCFC. Alberth Elis also scored his seventh goal of the season - just one short of the MLS lead.

9. New York City FC ▼

• Last Week: 3-1 loss at Houston Dynamo
• Next Match: June 2 vs. Orlando City

Tough week for NYCFC as speculation of manager Patrick Vieira's potential move to Ligue 1 was paired with a defeat at in-form Houston. Consistency is the key as NYCFC has made a habit of varying results, though considering its other two lopsided defeats this season (Red Bulls, Timbers) have been followed by wins, that bodes well for the visit from Orlando City.

10. Vancouver Whitecaps (–)

• Last Week: 3-3 draw vs. New England Revolution
• Next Match: June 1 at Colorado Rapids

Great things do come in small packages. Cristian Techera, standing just 5-foot-2, converted three crosses to complete his treble against New England on Saturday. The Vancouver Whitecaps peppered the visiting Revs' goal, recording 21 shots, and if it weren't for Kei Kamara's wastefulness, they would have won. Instead, it's four straight draws for Carl Robinson's charges.

11. Orlando City ▼

• Last week: 2-1 loss vs. Chicago Fire
• Next match: June 1 at New York City FC

That's now three defeats on the trot following a bright start to the campaign for Orlando City, the last of which was courtesy of Alan Gordon's stunning long-range strike. Jason Kreis and Co. should iron some extra knickers with the next three on the road, with a visit to NYCFC followed by voyages north to face Vancouver and Montreal.

12. Philadelphia Union ▲

• Last Week: 0-0 draw at New York Red Bulls
• Next Match: May 30 vs. Chicago Fire

Seven points from their last three is none too shabby for a Philadelphia Union side that kicked off the campaign with just one win in six. Jamaica No. 1 Andre Blake was at his best to secure a valuable point on the road, though were it not for Sapong's gaffe from the spot, the Union could have snatched three unlikely points away from home.

13. Minnesota United ▲

• Last Week: 2-0 win vs. Montreal Impact
• Next Match: June 3 at Sporting Kansas City

Longtime supporters' favorites from the NASL days, Christian Ramirez and Miguel Ibarra, both scored as the Loons handed the Montreal Impact a 10th loss on the campaign. Ibarra's effort was particularly delightful, and with 16 points through 13 matches, Adrian Heath's lot is well on its way to eclipsing last season's 36-point haul.

14. New England Revolution ▼

• Last Week: 3-3 draw at Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next Match: May 30 vs. Atlanta United

The Revs' 3-3 draw in Vancouver had a bit of everything. Six goals paired with repeated errors made for a compelling watch, as Techera's treble, including a 74th-minute equalizer, capped a dizzying spell of five goals in 26 second-half minutes. It's going to get more difficult before it gets any easier for New England with the next two coming against Atlanta and Red Bulls.

15. Real Salt Lake ▲

• Last Week: 1-0 win at Seattle Sounders
• Next Match: May 30 vs. Houston Dynamo

Nothing like a visit to goal-starved Seattle to alleviate a stretch during which Real Salt Lake conceded on 11 occasions in four matches, and with the victory, Mike Petke's side snatches a first away victory on the campaign. In terms of the negative, a minus-10 goal differential remains the worst in the Western Conference, and only Seattle and Colorado have scored fewer goals.

16. LA Galaxy ▲

• Last week: 1-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes
• Next Match: May 30 vs. FC Dallas

That's now two victories on the bounce following four straight defeats for the LA Galaxy, though a pair of 1-0 results against lowly Montreal and San Jose is hardly the stuff of legend. Romain Alessandrini's 82nd-minute winner and David Bingham's save at the stroke of 90 minutes were the difference as Sigi Schmid keeps his job for another week.

17. Chicago Fire ▲

• Last Week: 2-1 win vs. Orlando City
• Next Match: May 30 at Philadelphia Union

Alan Gordon, take a bow. The former U.S. international's right-footed rocket secured the three points for the Chicago Fire, but spare some praise for shot-stopper Patrick McLain, who was the Man of the Match in just his third start between the sticks and his first appearance since October 2016. Home form continues to be a point of concern with just two wins in seven.

18. Toronto FC ▼

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. FC Dallas
• Next Match: June 2 at Columbus Crew SC

Injuries can only be an excuse for so long. It's true Toronto FC has lost a ton of man games due to various ailments, but the results just aren't there. The reigning MLS champion is drifting further from a playoff spot and, more importantly, in desperate need of goals. Chances again went begging without Jozy Altidore against Dallas, and Giovinco's struggles from the penalty spot continued.

19. D.C. United ▲

• Last Week: 1-1 draw at Los Angeles FC
• Next Match: June 9 vs. Seattle Sounders

If D.C. United is playing, there's a good chance somebody is getting sent off, and after Paul Arriola and Joseph Mora saw red against Columbus and Salt Lake, respectively, Ben Olsen's lot was instead the benefactor against LAFC when Canadian Dejan Jakovic was sent packing seconds before the half. Regardless, D.C. still sits bottom of the east with just nine points.

20. San Jose Earthquakes ▲

• Last Week: 1-0 loss at LA Galaxy
• Next Match: June 2 at Chicago Fire

San Jose will rue not taking advantage of a struggling LA Galaxy in a match that may have prompted neutral supporters to pick up a book. Twelve matches, two victories to go with seven defeats - five of which have come in the last seven matches - spells disaster for an Earthquakes side that appears doomed to finish in or near the Western Conference basement.

21. Seattle Sounders ▼

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. Real Salt Lake
• Next Match: June 2 at Real Salt Lake

If, at first, you don't succeed, try, try again. And thankfully for a Seattle side accustomed to slow starts, a one-goal loss to Real Salt Lake will provide some insight into next week's visit to Utah. The Sounders couldn't score if the ball had GPS, though a league-worst seven goals scored is made to look slightly less dire by virtue of a scant 12 goals conceded.

22. Montreal Impact ▼

• Last Week: 2-0 loss at Minnesota United
• Next Match: June 2 vs. Houston Dynamo

Thirteen matches played. Ten losses. Remi Garde must be having second thoughts after the Frenchman again watched his side underperform, this time in Minnesota. That's now four losses on the bounce with zero goals scored and six conceded, and with a visit from high-flying Houston and a trip to Dallas on the slate, things aren't looking too peachy for the Impact.

23. Colorado Rapids (–)

• Last Week: 3-2 loss vs. Portland Timbers
• Next Match: June 1 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

What can you even say about the Rapids at this point? Fighting for the honor of worst team in the MLS, Colorado has lost six in a row by a 15-4 margin. If it's any consolation, Portland is volcanic hot, and for the first time since a 2-0 win over TFC on April 14, the Rapids scored more than a goal in a match. Small victories for Anthony Hudson's charges.