MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot | OneFootball

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Blaise Bourgeois·26 April 2018

MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

NYCFC lost their first match of the season, leaving FC Dallas as the only unbeaten team in MLS.

A spectacular weekend full of goals has our power rankings moving around.


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10 New England Revolution [3-2-2] (+2)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

The Revs showed great resolve in coming back from a goal down twice to earn a 2-2 draw on the road against a Columbus Crew team who are much better than their form suggests. When you look at the Revolution’s total body of work, you have to be impressed. New England’s only losses come to FC Dallas, the league’s only undefeated team, and on opening day, when Anthony Milnar Delamea was sent off in the 24th minute against the Philadelphia Union. It’s hard to say whether or not they’re a top-tier club yet, as two of their three wins came after their opponents were shown an early red.

9 Houston Dynamo [2-2-2] (+2)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

The Dynamo could easily have four wins if they hadn’t blown two late leads against inferior opponents. A pair blowout victories over Atlanta United (4-0) and most-recently Toronto FC (5-1) leave many wondering what the true identity of this team is.

8 Orlando City [4-1-2] (+5)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

Orlando City have stormed back from a rough start to the season to win four matches in a row. However, giving up a pair of goals and missing a penalty in the last 15 minutes of their 3-2 win over San Jose is a bit concerning.

7 New York Red Bulls [3-0-3] (-3)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

No CONCACAF Champions League as an excuse this time around as their full-strength XI lost 2-1 at home to the Chicago Fire. They probably deserved to win, putting 11 shots on target for the second week in a row, but they fell victim to an incredible performance by Fire goalkeeper Richard Sánchez.

6 Toronto FC [1-0-4] (-3)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

We’re forced to keep TFC in the top-10 since they’re the defending champions and are in the CONCACAF Champions League final. They look like one of the best teams in MLS when their first-team is in-form. Getting blown out 5-1 isn’t a good look though, even if TFC put out their reserves. Toronto have a lot of work to do to catch up in the standings as they’ve lost four of their five MLS matches so far.

5 FC Dallas [3-3-0] (+2)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

FCD is the only undefeated team left in MLS and has by far the best defense in the league, who have given up just three goals in their first six matches. However, their attack has a lot to prove as FCD has yet to play a match in which they’ve scored more than once from open play with 11 men on the field.

4 LAFC [4-0-2] (+2)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

The Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela show went on as LAFC scored five goals on Montreal to earn their fourth win of the season. Vela had another goal and an assist, while Rossi didn’t find the target this time around, but all five of his shots last weekend were on target.

3 Sporting Kansas City [5-2-1] (+2)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

After losing their opening fixture to NYCFC, SKC have gone seven straight matches unbeaten, including last week’s 6-0 beatdown of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Their attack has been extremely potent, scoring nearly three goals-per-game during their unbeaten run and have earned three clean sheets in their last four matches.

2 NYCFC [5-2-1] (-1)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

They’ve finally been beaten, losing 3-0 to Portland Timbers for their first loss in 2018. It was easy to see NYCFC dropping a match after a crazy travel schedule and playing their football at an exhilarating pace. NYCFC now find themselves in a precarious position with manager Patrick Vieira linked to the Arsenal job.

1 Atlanta United [5-1-1] (+1)

Article image:MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United jumps NYCFC for top spot

Atlanta made very light work of Zlatan Ibrahimović and the LA Galaxy, winning 2-0 to take over the top spot in our power rankings. Atlanta has the second-highest scoring offence in the league despite occasionally lacking sharpness in their latest win.