MLS Power Rankings, Week 21: TFC back on top, LA Galaxy stumble again

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 to craft an idea of how things stand in one single table.

Here's how each team ranks after Week 21 of the 2017 season:

1. Toronto FC (+2)

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 at D.C. United (7:00 p.m. ET)

Toronto FC rounded off the weekend with the fourth 4-0 result in Week 21, and did so without really getting out of second gear. These Reds are unstoppable.

2. Chicago Fire (-1)

• Last Week: 3-2 loss vs. Sporting KC
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 vs. New England (8:30 p.m. ET)

The Chicago Fire are being tested for the first time this year as a pair of losses threaten to undo the team's good work; the team's response will define 2017.

3. New York City FC (-1)

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. Toronto FC
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 6 vs. NY Red Bulls (6:00 p.m. ET)

A missed consolatory penalty in the dying moments of the match just about summed up a day of half-chances and little hope for New York City FC.

4. Sporting Kansas City (+1)

• Last Week: 3-2 win vs. Chicago Fire
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 6 vs. Atlanta (8:00 p.m. ET)

It was a battle of Hungarian talent as Sporting Kansas City pulled off a solid win over Nemanja Nikolic's Chicago off the back of 21-year-old Daniel Salloi.

5. FC Dallas (-1)

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 at Philadelphia (7:00 p.m. ET)

Just one week after we outlined FC Dallas' incredible home form in summer months, the Whitecaps stroll into Texas and pull off a 4-0 win - did we jinx it?

6. New York Red Bulls (+1)

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. Montreal Impact
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 6 at NYCFC (6:00 p.m. ET)

Since losing at home to NYCFC, the New York Red Bulls have won their last four league matches in a row, scoring 13 goals - Eastern foes, beware.

7. Atlanta United (-1)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Orlando City
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 6 at Sporting KC (8:00 p.m. ET)

Atlanta United did well to play spoilers to Orlando's near-victory, with Hector Villalba once again leaving it late to rescue the result.

8. Houston Dynamo (-)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Portland Timbers
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 at Real Salt Lake (10:00 p.m. ET)

It took a late effort to preserve the Houston Dynamo's perfect home record but they're quite lucky that Fanendo Adi's 55th-minute goal was adjudged offside.

9. Seattle Sounders (-)

• Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET)

The Seattle Sounders battled to a stalemate against the Galaxy in a match that saw the team extend its unbeaten streak to six.

10. Orlando City (-)

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Atlanta United
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 at Montreal (7:30 p.m. ET)

Orlando City took on Atlanta twice in two weeks and twice conceded a late goal that threw away points. Dom Dwyer's introduction was decent, though.

11. Portland Timbers (-)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Houston Dynamo
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 6 vs. LA Galaxy (4:00 p.m. ET)

The Portland Timbers are right to feel hard done in Texas as a seemingly fine goal was ruled out incorrectly, but a point on the road is good enough, for now.

12. Vancouver Whitecaps (+2)

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 at Colorado (10:00 p.m. ET)

The Vancouver Whitecaps finally got a win in Dallas and are riding high on the feeling that the second half of 2017 will be a little kinder to them. Now, onward.

13. San Jose Earthquakes (-1)

• Last Week: 1-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 vs. Columbus (10:30 p.m. ET)

A win over the Rapids is the bare minimum over in the West and while it wasn't a memorable match, the San Jose Earthquakes didn't make a meal of this one.

14. Columbus Crew (-2)

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. Philadelphia, 2-2 draw vs. RSL
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 at San Jose (10:30 p.m. ET)

Inconsistency is the theme of the year for the Columbus Crew, who defeated Philly last week, only to lose on the reverse tilt before scraping a draw at RSL.

15. Philadelphia Union (-)

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Columbus, 3-0 loss vs. New England
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 vs. Dallas (7:00 p.m. ET)

The Philadelphia Union turned around last week's loss to Columbus with a win midweek at home, then predictably collapsed in the next match in a 3-0 loss.

16. New England Revolution (+1)

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Philadelphia Union
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 at Chicago (8:30 p.m. ET)

Remember Kei Kamara? New England Revolution fans certainly got a taste of vintage Kamara goal-scoring heroics as the 32-year-old notched a solid brace.

17. LA Galaxy (-1)

• Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. Seattle Sounders
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 6 at Portland (4:00 p.m. ET)

New LA Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid started off with a 0-0 draw against his former Sounders, a result inconspicuous enough to avoid needless platitudes.

18. Minnesota United (+1)

• Last Week: 4-0 win vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 vs. Seattle (8:00 p.m. ET)

Minnesota United turned around last week's loss to the Red Bulls with a huge win against ailing D.C. United, just the confidence boost this team needed.

19. Montreal Impact (-1)

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 vs. Orlando (7:30 p.m. ET)

There's no helping the Montreal Impact any longer. Ignacio Piatti's absence was felt but another crushing loss has Mauro Biello's side feeling quite blue.

20. Real Salt Lake (+1)

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Columbus Crew
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 vs. Houston (10:00 p.m. ET)

There were points on the board ready to be taken against the Crew, but Real Salt Lake couldn't hold onto its 2-1 lead long enough to stake a real claim to it.

21. Colorado Rapids (-1)

• Last Week: 1-0 loss vs. San Jose Earthquakes
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 vs. Vancouver (10:00 p.m. ET)

The Colorado Rapids returned to their familiar losing ways with a dropped result against San Jose, and were lucky, in truth, to only lose by one goal.

22. D.C. United (-)

• Last Week: 4-0 loss vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: Aug. 5 vs. Toronto (7:00 p.m. ET)

How could it get any worse for D.C. United? Simple. A blowout 4-0 loss against expansion Minnesota United should do the trick.

Further reading:

• LA Galaxy president: 'Doors are open' for Ibrahimovic
• Bob Bradley unveiled as 1st Los Angeles FC boss
• 3 ways Orlando City can line up with new striker Dom Dwyer

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)