Power Rankings: Antics or not, FC Dallas climb after massive two-win week

Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings​. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff; words by Jonathan Sigal.

BIGGEST MOVERS: DAL, VAN +4; SJ -6

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HIGH: 1 | LOW: 9

The Crew sit atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with four goals against and nine shutouts on the year. Focus understandably shifts to how they can slice opposing teams apart, but Columbus’ backline deserves a ton of credit. Center back Jonathan Mensah is a rock and left back Milton Valenzuela is proving how dearly he was missed in 2019.

Previous: 2-0 win vs. NSH | Next: vs. MIN on 9/23; at TOR on 9/27

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HIGH: 1 | LOW: 8

Two Nicolas Lodeiro penalty kicks later (he’s a perfect 14-for-14 in regular-season matches!) and Seattle have their second win in as many weeks. They’re atop the Western Conference standings with a game in hand, and only improved their squad last week when signing left back Brad Smith.

Previous: 3-0 win vs. LAFC | Next: at POR on 9/23; at LA on 9/27

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HIGH: 2 | LOW: 11

The Union made it look easy last weekend, dropping four goals on Montreal. They’ve now won five of their last six and are nipping at Columbus’ heels for the Supporters’ Shield lead. The term “linear trajectory” is often used to describe Philly under Jim Curtin, and it's easy to see why.

Previous: 4-1 win at MTL | Next: at CIN on 9/23; vs. MIA on 9/27

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HIGH: 4 | LOW: 23

Orlando can score in bunches, though it’s worth highlighting the other end of the pitch as well. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese can make game-saving plays (no pun intended), just like last weekend’s PK stop on Alvaro Medran. Center back Antonio Carlos is also proving to be a quality signing, and one has to wonder if they’ll exercise the purchase option on his one-year loan from Palmeiras.

Previous: 4-1 win vs. CHI | Next: at SKC on 9/23; at DAL on 9/27

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HIGH: 1 | LOW: 6

The story of Toronto’s season, as of late, is leaving points on the table. The latest is allowing an 88th-minute equalizer against a struggling D.C. United squad. But the good news is they’re into the Canadian Championship final against the CPL’s Forge FC, so a Concacaf Champions League spot is 90 minutes away.

Previous: 2-2 draw at DC | Next: at NYC on 9/23; vs. CLB on 9/27

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HIGH: 2 | LOW: 14

Let’s all take a moment to appreciate Diego Valeri for all his brilliance. The Argentine maestro bagged his 11th brace in Portland colors last weekend, giving him 82 goals and 86 assists since coming to MLS in 2013. Portland’s results have been inconsistent, sure, but Valeri continues to produce at an absurd level.

Previous: 1-1 draw at SJ; 6-1 win at SJ | Next: vs. SEA on 9/23; at VAN on 9/27

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HIGH: 3 | LOW: 13

Unbeaten in six (4-0-2), NYCFC won’t complain about a nil-nil road draw given that Maxi Moralez is out 4-6 weeks with a knee injury and James Sands was suspended. Even with this post-MLS is Back resurgence, it still feels like the Cityzens have another level or two to reach.

Previous: 0-0 draw at NE | Next: vs. TOR on 9/23; vs. CIN on 9/26

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HIGH: 6 | LOW: 24

The Galaxy’s six-game unbeaten streak ended over the weekend, and they’ve been shut out in back-to-back matches. Perhaps summertime signing Yony Gonzalez will be available soon, with head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto’s comments last week making it seem as though the on-loan Benfica winger will enter the mix over a month after originally signing.

Previous: 2-0 loss vs. COL | Next: at RSL on 9/23; vs. SEA on 9/27

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HIGH: 7 | LOW: 16

Franco Jara seems settled (five goals in five games), Santiago Mosquera is showing glimpses (hat trick last Wednesday) and Homegrown right back Bryan Reynolds is making the transfer of Reggie Cannon to Boavista FC relatively pain-free. Their latest win even led to some back-and-forth between head coaches Luchi Gonzalez and Peter Vermes, with the latter accusing Dallas of time-wasting antics and being "disrespectful," while the former defended the integrity of his players.

Previous: 4-1 win vs. COL; 3-2 win at SKC | Next: at ATL on 9/23; vs. ORL on 9/27

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HIGH: 6 | LOW: 18

Sporting are second in the Western Conference standings, though that can be somewhat misleading. They’re 1-3-2 in their last six games and can’t get forward Alan Pulido back fast enough. The club-record signing hasn't played in their last four matches while recovering from an undisclosed injury.

Previous: 3-2 loss vs. DAL | Next: vs. ORL on 9/23; at COL on 9/27

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HIGH: 4 | LOW: 11

The Loons made waves over the weekend when acquiring veteran striker Kei Kamara via trade from Colorado. It’s the 36-year-old’s eighth team of his MLS career, and he arrives fifth all-time on the MLS goals list (129). Perhaps he’s the final piece as the Loons look to contend for the West’s top spot.

Previous: 2-2 draw at HOU | Next: at CLB on 9/23; vs. RSL on 9/27

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HIGH: 8 | LOW: 25

The Dynamo officially transferred DP winger Alberth Elis to Boavista FC on Monday, ending a three-plus year stay for the Honduran star in H-Town. Replacing his speed and goal-dangerous threat won’t be easy, but GM Matt Jordan told MLSsoccer.com’s Tom Bogert that they’re intent on filling that slot before the Secondary Transfer Window closes Oct. 29.

Previous: 2-2 draw vs. MIN | Next: at CHI on 9/23; at NSH on 9/26

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HIGH: 1 | LOW: 13

Is it more that LAFC miss Carlos Vela (MCL sprain) or center back Walker Zimmerman (traded to Nashville in February)? It might be the latter, especially since they haven’t posted a shutout since their season-opening win over Inter Miami. To put a number to it, LAFC are averaging 2.75 goals against during this 1-3 stretch.

Previous: 3-0 loss at SEA | Next: vs. VAN on 9/23; vs. SJ on 9/27

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HIGH: 11 | LOW: 18

The Revs are 0-4-1 at Gillette Stadium this year, which comes in stark contrast to their Fortress Foxboro days of old. They’ve also scored only 10 times, which is tied for the fourth-fewest goals in MLS. We sound like a broken record, but the absence of Carles Gil really is that significant.

Previous: 0-0 draw vs. NYC | Next: vs. MTL on 9/23; at DC on 9/27

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HIGH: 15 | LOW: 26

Nashville’s four-game unbeaten streak came to an end against the Supporters’ Shield-leading Crew last weekend. There’s no shame in that, though they did allow two goals for the second straight game. Defense is the expansion club’s foundation, so they’ll need to button up some things there.

Previous: 2-0 loss at CLB | Next: vs. DC on 9/23; vs. HOU on 9/26

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HIGH: 7 | LOW: 21

With two wins in three games, things are all of a sudden looking up in Colorado. They now await back-to-back games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, where Robin Fraser’s group hasn’t won since way back in March (pre-COVID pause).

Previous: 4-1 loss at DAL; 2-0 win at LA | Next: vs. SJ on 9/23; vs. SKC on 9/27

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HIGH: 14 | LOW: 21

Self-inflicted wounds keep troubling Montreal, first with Rudy Camacho (what are you doing?!?!) drawing red when punching Vancouver's Fredy Montero's knee in last Wednesday’s do-or-die CanChamp match. Then came Romell Quioto’s red card last weekend against Philadelphia when elbowing Mark McKenzie in the face. Sometimes teams beat you and other times you, well, beat yourself.

Previous: 3-1 loss at VAN; 4-1 loss vs. PHI | Next: at NE on 9/23; at RBNY on 9/27

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HIGH: 11 | LOW: 18

It was a rough back-to-back weekends at Rio Tinto Stadium, first with a 5-0 defeat against Colorado and then with a 2-1 setback against Vancouver. RSL only have three wins on the year, which might come as a surprise given the final-third efficiency they’ve shown at times. 

Previous: 2-1 loss vs. VAN | Next: vs. LA on 9/23; at MIN on 9/27

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HIGH: 19 | LOW: 26

In case you haven’t heard (who are we kidding), Inter Miami officially splashed the cash Friday when landing Argentine No. 9 Gonzalo Higuain to fill their third and final Designated Player slot. He’s their second ex-Juventus player to sign this summer after midfielder Blaise Matuidi, and their collective quality should help the expansion club climb the Eastern Conference standings amid this 3-2-2 stretch.

Previous: 2-1 win at ATL | Next: vs. RBNY on 9/23; at PHI on 9/27

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HIGH: 19 | LOW: 26

The Whitecaps have toiled near the bottom of the Power Rankings for much of 2020, but now they have three wins in their last four matches. The resurgence of Fredy Montero is playing a key role, as the Colombian forward has two goals and three assists in Vancouver’s last two victories.

Previous: 3-1 win vs. MTL; 2-1 win at RSL | Next: at LAFC on 9/23; vs. POR on 9/27

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HIGH: 12 | LOW: 21

It’s been three games since the Red Bulls fired head coach Chris Armas, and they’re 1-2 in the immediate aftermath. That’s not an indictment on interim head coach Bradley Carnell, but rather a glimpse into the project before the 2018 Supporters’ Shield winners as they look to reclaim their place atop the MLS pecking order.

Previous: 1-0 loss vs. CIN | Next: at MIA on 9/23; vs. MTL on 9/27

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HIGH: 18 | LOW: 26

FC Cincy are back in the win column for the first time since July 22, so that sound you hear is a collective sigh of relief around southwestern Ohio. It arrived after Haris Medunjanin's spectacular Olimpico goal, as the 35-year-old continues to prove effective in MLS.

Previous: 1-0 win at RBNY | Next: vs. PHI on 9/23; at NYC on 9/26

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HIGH: 1 | LOW: 23

Atlanta are winless in six and 1-7-2 across their last 10 matches. Given the Five Stripes’ self-imposed high standards, that’s a pretty dark stain on a proud club. They’ve been scored on inside two minutes in back-to-back games, which provides a window into their overall struggles.

Previous: 2-1 loss vs. MIA | Next: vs. DAL on 9/23; at CHI on 9/27

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HIGH: 20 | LOW: 25

Raphael Wicky said it himself:  “It's nice to play good, it's nice to create, but we got to be better on both ends of the field.” The Swiss head coach is nothing if not honest, as Chicago are now winless in five and bottom of the Supporters’ Shield standings. 

Previous: 4-1 loss at ORL | Next: vs. HOU on 9/23; vs. ATL on 9/27

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HIGH: 14 | LOW: 26

D.C. are still laboring near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, even if they’re 1-1-2 in their last four games. They’re showing plenty of fight and youngsters are coming through (i.e. Griffin Yow), but now it’s about showing more quality with greater consistency in key moments.

Previous: 2-2 draw vs. TOR | Next: at NSH on 9/23; vs. NE on 9/27

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HIGH: 10 | LOW: 26

Splitting headache for Matias Almeyda or not, it’s usually not a good sign when your general manager (Jesse Fioranelli) handles post-match press conference duties. San Jose are winless in seven (0-4-3 stretch) and dropped three of those by a combined 18-3 scoreline. Just brutal. 

Previous: 1-1 loss vs. POR; 6-1 loss vs. POR | Next: at COL on 9/23; at LAFC on 9/27