Power Rankings: Seattle Sounders gain steam, FC Cincinnati hit roadblock | OneFootball

By J. Sam Jones

What a week in MLS.

The Vancouver Whitecaps and Columbus Crew played beautiful soccer en route to impressive wins, Seattle Sounders FC won at home and Inter Miami CF came up short in the Concacaf Champions Cup. It was truly a week unlike any other.

As always: The Power Rankings are voted on by, give or take, 15 people associated with MLSsoccer.com. The author does get a little rush out of moving your team down a few spots, though.

1. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Don’t stop appreciating how remarkable the Whitecaps are.

They started the week by making the Concacaf Champions Cup final, blowing past Inter Miami 5-1 on aggregate. They ended it with a 2-1 win over RSL (without Ryan Gauld and Brian White) to stay atop the Supporters' Shield standings on an incredible 2.36 points-per-game pace (which would result in an MLS-record 80 points over a whole season).

Vancouver Whitecaps: Is this the best CCC run ever?

In a scenario where other MLS teams have seen their league seasons derailed, the Whitecaps keep finding ways to win.

This is one of the single-best runs an MLS club has ever compiled. It’s worth repeating again and again.

Previous: 2-1 win vs. RSL | Next: 5/11 vs. LAFC

2. Columbus Crew · +1▲

Four different goal-scorers contributed to a 4-2 win over Charlotte, moving the Crew to first place in the Eastern Conference.

Y’all know the drill by now. A 17-pass, 70-second possession sequence leading to a goal is banal at this point.

Previous: 4-2 win vs. CLT | Next: 5/10 at PHI

3. Inter Miami CF · +1▲

Inter Miami have come up short in Concacaf Champions Cup for the second straight year. For all their talent and pedigree, they’re still a team with flaws that can get exposed, especially in tournament settings. The Whitecaps steamrolled the Herons over two legs in their semifinal series and kept Miami from a shot at their biggest prize yet.

Most teams would kill for a Leagues Cup and a Supporters’ Shield over two seasons. But without an MLS Cup or Concacaf Champions Cup, fans are left wanting more from the Lionel Messi era.

Inter Miami: Is CCC exit cause for greater concern?

Previous: 4-1 win vs. RBNY | Next: 5/10 at MIN

4. Philadelphia Union · +1▲

The Union got the job done against CF Montréal over the weekend. Make it three straight wins for Philly and yet another impressive performance from No. 6 Danley Jean Jacques.

Previous: 2-1 win at MTL | Next: 5/10 vs. CLB

5. FC Cincinnati · -3▼

Cincy still don’t look like the best version of themselves. There might have been some regression to the mean last weekend when they fell 1-0 to NYCFC and snapped a five-game winning streak. Right now, it’s a group that feels like it’s lacking chemistry, even if the results have been positive. Just imagine how good they can be if they can start clicking.

Previous: 1-0 loss at NYC | Next: 5/10 vs. ATX

6. Minnesota United FC · +3▲

The Loons cruised to a 3-0 win at Austin – their first win in four games – and jumped to second place in the Western Conference. Julian Gressel debuted and Joaquín Pereyra was quietly spectacular. Not a bad weekend!

Previous: 3-0 win at ATX | Next: 5/10 vs. MIA

7. Charlotte FC · -1▼

The Crown got Crew’d. It happens to the best of us. But Charlotte’s 4-2 loss felt like a reminder that the eye test and underlying numbers suggest there are a few questions Dean Smith's group needs to answer.

Previous: 4-2 loss at CLB | Next: 5/10 at NSH

8. Seattle Sounders FC · +4▲

Welcome back, Seattle.

The Sounders put in one of their best performances in recent memory with a 4-1 demolition of St. Louis. Backheeled’s Joe Lowery did the math: Seattle put up more xG in this one than any other game in American Soccer Analysis’ database (dating back to 2013). Suddenly the Sounders have snagged 10 points from four matches.

Previous: 4-1 win vs. STL | Next: 5/10 at HOU

9. Los Angeles Football Club · +2▲

LAFC have started to take care of business a little more often since exiting Concacaf Champions Cup play. They didn’t mess around in a convincing 2-0 win over Houston on Saturday, making it eight points in four games.

They have a massive litmus test on the way for them in Matchday 12's edition of Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire. A visit to Vancouver is the most difficult trip in MLS right now.

Previous: 2-0 win vs. HOU | Next: 5/11 at VAN

10. San Diego FC · +4▲

When good San Diego shows up, they steamroll teams… so Dallas became the latest group to fall victim to the best version of MLS’ newest club.

Chucky Lozano scored twice in a 5-0 win. He's is up to 4g/6a on the season and San Diego are back up to fourth in the West after three straight losses. Only two teams in the conference have scored more often.

Player of the Matchday 11: Chucky Lozano

Previous: 5-0 win vs. DAL | Next: 5/10 at STL

11. Nashville SC · -1▼

It’s not a 7-2 win, but a road draw in Atlanta isn’t an awful result. The Coyotes were the better side for the majority of the day. They just couldn’t find a winner.

They’re a much-improved side this year, but they've also won just twice in their last six games.

Previous: 1-1 draw at ATL | Next: 5/10 vs. CLT

12. Orlando City · -5▼

The Lions were far from their best in Chicago until Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady earned a red card in the 36th minute. They piled on chances after that, but only put two of their subsequent 18 shots on target.

Make it four 0-0 draws in Orlando's last five games. At least Pedro Gallese is crushing it.

Previous: 0-0 draw at CHI | Next: 5/10 vs. NE

13. Portland Timbers · -5▼

Little went right for the Timbers during a 4-1 loss at San Jose. It’s just their first loss in eight games, though. They had to stumble eventually. Don’t be surprised if they get back on track against Sporting KC this upcoming weekend.

Previous: 4-1 loss at SJ | Next: 5/10 vs. SKC

14. New England Revolution · +3▲

What a difference a few weeks (and a change in personnel) can make. Since switching to a 3-4-1-2 setup, the Revs have won four straight and kept four straight clean sheets. They kept their form rolling over the weekend with a straightforward 2-0 win at Toronto that featured a worldie from Carles Gil.

My take: The competition they’ve faced and the underlying numbers they’ve generated over that stretch don’t suggest they’ve suddenly turned into an MLS Cup contender. Let’s maybe give it a few more games before we declare the Revs all the way back.

New England Revolution: How they flipped the script

Previous: 2-0 win at TOR | Next: 5/10 at ORL

15. New York City FC · +4▲

Julián Fernández scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over FC Cincinnati. New York City FC have found a way to win three of their last four, all by a 1-0 scoreline. Nothing has been perfect during Pascal Jansen’s first season, but they've still piled up 17 points in 11 games.

Previous: 1-0 win vs. CIN | Next: 5/10 vs. MTL

16. Colorado Rapids · -3▼

Two goals allowed in first-half stoppage time doomed the Rapids over the weekend against D.C. Matt Doyle has the numbers for Colorado at the end of first halves and, well…

Colorado did their usual thing of completely collapsing in the five minutes before the half – on the season they sport an incredible -7 goal differential from minute 40 to the halftime whistle.

They've earned five points in their last five games.

Previous: 2-1 loss at DC | Next: 5/10 vs. SJ

17. San Jose Earthquakes · +6▲

No one in MLS has scored like the Quakes this season. They put up four on Portland in a much-needed win that gave them a league-best 24 goals. The even better news is they only allowed one goal.

Finding a little more balance is critical for San Jose as the season goes along. They took a step in the right direction against the Timbers.

WATCH: Cristian Espinoza showcases Best XI-like skill to lead Quakes past Timbers

Previous: 4-1 win vs. POR | Next: 5/10 at COL

18. FC Dallas · -2▼

It's probably best to move on and never talk about last weekend's visit to San Diego ever again.

Previous: 5-0 loss at SD | Next: 5/10 vs. RSL

19. New York Red Bulls · -1▼

The Red Bulls got steamrolled by an angry Miami side over the weekend. Make it just two wins in six games for a team that can’t seem to get out of first gear. They don’t look like your typical RBNY group and the results have been middling for a club looking to build on last year’s run to MLS Cup.

Previous: 4-1 loss at MIA | Next: 5/10 vs. LA

20. Austin FC · -5▼

Austin got whomped in a 3-0 rout at Minnesota United. After spending a ton of money in the offseason to reshape their attack, Austin have scored seven goals and been kept scoreless in five matches this season. CF Montréal are the only team with fewer goals.

Previous: 3-0 loss vs. MIN | Next: 5/10 at CIN

21. Real Salt Lake · -1▼

Who doesn’t lose to Vancouver these days?

Still, RSL have just two wins in their last seven matches.

Previous: 2-1 loss at VAN | Next: 5/10 at DAL

22. Chicago Fire FC · -1▼

Chicago poured on the chances, then Chris Brady was shown a 36th-minute red card. What should have been a win turned into a disappointing 0-0 draw with Orlando. The Fire haven’t won since March 22.

On a positive note, remember the name: Christopher Cupps.

Previous: 0-0 draw vs. ORL | Next: 5/10 vs. ATL

23. Sporting Kansas City · +2▲

You and I attempted the same number of shots as Sporting KC this past weekend. You and I also had one less win.

History, folks.

Previous: 1-0 win vs. LA | Next: 5/10 at POR

24. D.C. United · +3▲

Thanks to goals from Christian Benteke and Hosei Kijima in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Colorado, D.C. have suddenly taken two of their last three. Everything may not be fixed, but at least they’ve moved themselves well beyond Wooden Spoon territory.

Previous: 2-1 win vs. COL | Next: 5/10 at TOR

25. Houston Dynamo FC · -1▼

There isn’t much good to say about a 2-0 loss at LAFC that saw Houston put up four shots (none of which were on target). The Dynamo are stuck down in 14th place in the West.

Previous: 2-0 loss at LAFC | Next: 5/10 vs. SEA

26. Atlanta United

After a 1-1 draw with Nashville (featuring 31% possession and 0.07 xG for the Five Stripes over the last 70 minutes), the underlying numbers have this group as the worst non-pandemic Atlanta United side ever. They’re even starting to challenge the 2020 group on paper. In reality, they’re on a worse points per game rate than the 2020 team that finished with 22 points in 23 games.

Previous: 1-1 draw vs. NSH | Next: 5/10 at CHI

27. St. Louis CITY SC · -5▼

Even the defense isn’t getting the job done lately. St. Louis gave up four goals and a ton of chances to Seattle in a 4-1 loss.

Previous: 4-1 loss at SEA | Next: 5/10 vs. SD

28. Toronto FC

Make it three straight home defeats (all competitions) for Toronto. Their midweek exit from the Canadian Championship was particularly tough.

Previous: 2-0 loss vs. NE | Next: 5/10 vs. DC

29. CF Montréal

Montréal are officially in “worst start in MLS history” territory after falling 2-1 to Philadelphia. They have three points through 11 games.

Previous: 2-1 loss vs. PHI | Next: 5/10 at NYC

30. LA Galaxy

LA are officially in “worst start in MLS history” territory after falling 1-0 to Sporting KC. They have three points through 11 games.

Previous: 1-0 loss at SKC | Next: 5/10 at RBNY