Week 3 MLS Power Rankings: Rocky start for Colorado as LAFC fly high | OneFootball

Only five teams remain undefeated just three weeks in the MLS season.

Now that all but the Colorado Rapids have played at least two matches, we have enough data-points to give you our first MLS Power Rankings list of the season.

Never mind the official standings, these are the rankings that really matter.

[Records in W-D-L format]

23 Colorado Rapids [0-0-1]

Hopefully the recent acquisition of Ivorian striker Yannick Boli will help the Rapids get moving. The team lacked effort and heart in their CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final exit against Toronto FC. Although some may credit the loss to agonisingly cold temperatures, this is a team that really lacks quality and depth.

22 D.C. United [0-2-1]

We have no clue how D.C. managed to come back against the free-flowing Houston Dynamo but we do know they looked awful. Both of the goals they conceded were a result of horrendous defensive errors. So far, their only points have come through a miracle 97th-minute equaliser and blowing a 1-0 lead against a weak Orlando City side that had 10 men for 50 minutes.

21 Orlando City SC [0-1-2]

We’d would love to give the Lions the benefit of the doubt but Sacha Kljestan’s long-awaited debut didn’t lead to anything in NYC. In fact, his turnover led to NYCFC’s second goal.  Orlando City are still without a number of starters and should improve a bit once they come back.

20 New England Revolution [1-0-1]

We don’t know too much about this Revs team two matches into their season. A stoppage-time winner against lowly Colorado is pretty easy to dismiss and they lost 2-0 to the Union down a man after a 24th-minute sending off.  They’ll have their hands full with NYCFC on Saturday.

19 Portland Timbers [0-0-2]

Portland got smacked in the mouth two weeks ago by a New York Red Bulls squad that was mainly USL and academy talent. They have a challenge waiting for them in Dallas on Saturday and can prove a lot of doubters wrong with a victory over an FCD squad that have lost at home just five times in the last three years combined.

18 Chicago Fire [0-0-2]

In two matches, the Fire have given up six goals, including three within seven minutes of scoring themselves. That’s not going to cut it, with or without Bastian Schweinsteiger. They’ll get him back for this Saturday’s big home match against Portland, who are also without a point this season.

17 Real Salt Lake [1-1-1]

We predicted RSL’s “upset” over New York Red Bulls last week, and it was mainly due to goalkeeper Nick Rimando making two extraordinary saves.  VAR also allowed the penalty that gave Real the 1-0 win. After a decent 1-1 road draw in Dallas and a 5-1 thrashing by LAFC at home, we’re still wondering who the Real Salt Lake is.

16 Montreal Impact [1-0-2]

Huge props to Montreal for coming up with a big 1-0 win over 401 rivals and defending champs Toronto FC. This club has had the toughest schedule to start the season (NYCFC, Columbus, Toronto) and deserved a point against Columbus for their spectacular second half.  Big road matches are coming up against Seattle and New England that could prove valuable for the Impact’s confidence and form moving forward.

15 Los Angeles Galaxy [1-0-1]

The Galaxy were off this week, and perhaps the timing isn’t all bad. The Dos Santos brothers were both omitted from the Mexico squad due to injury and are a doubt for Vancouver on Saturday. Romain Alessandrini is also racing to be fit but should play.  The inaugural Los Angeles derby is right around the corner and they’ll need all the help they can get.

14 Seattle Sounders [0-0-2]

Clint Dempsey had another of his trademark inexplicably dumb moments, throwing an elbow into the gut of his opponent and getting caught on VAR.  The first-half sending off cost Seattle the match and he could miss further time.  The defending MLS Cup finalists have yet to score this season and have their share of injury woes. Luckily, they have plenty of time to improve, as they should.

13 Minnesota United [2-0-1]

The second-year club was tipped to be one of the worst teams ever to play an MLS season last year and surprised everyone by winning 10 games.  Despite not making many pre-season moves, the Loons look significantly better on the field this year and could sniff the playoffs if they keep this up. Big match against the Red Bulls on Saturday.

12 San Jose Earthquakes [1-0-1]

San Jose have scored five goals in just two matches but, crucially, have allowed the same total.  This club put a real beatdown on Minnesota before allowing two goals in the last ten minutes and were unlucky not to get a result at Sporting Kansas City.  They’re off this week but we should find out which team they actually are when they host NYCFC next Saturday.

11 Philadelphia Union [1-1-0]

The Union have yet to allow a goal this season, however, they’ve only scored while up a man against one of the worst teams in the league in New England. We’re unsure if they earned a point or dropped two against Columbus, but it’s a very solid result.  They’re off this week and will travel to Colorado next Saturday.

10 FC Dallas [1-1-0]

Always one of the most underrated teams in the league, FCD looked very impressive in their 3-0 rout of Seattle. Their attack is very exciting to watch and MVP-type Mauro Díaz isn’t 100% yet. Roland Lamah has followed up his 11 goals last season in 2017 with a pair in 2018. Watch for this team to develop as the season progresses.

9 Vancouver Whitecaps [2-0-1]

The Whitecaps didn’t have much of a shot to defeat Atlanta after an early red card to Kendall Watson courtesy of the VAR. Otherwise, this could have been one of the best matches in MLS all season. Despite being down a man and a goal, they applied pressure and played well throughout the first hour before eventually crumbling. Striker Kei Kamara is a wonderful addition that could take Vancouver to the next level.

8 Sporting Kansas City [2-0-1]

Despite having a reputation for being one of the best defenses in the league, Sporting Kansas City have scored seven times in three matches and have the second-most shots in the league (47).  Despite losing 2-0 to NYCFC in their home opener, SKC looked like one of the best MLS sides since. Expect nothing less than a top performance this weekend at Colorado.

7 New York Red Bulls [1-0-1]

The Red Bulls are completely focused on the CONCACAF Champions League after dispatching Club Tijuana 5-1 over two legs to set up a semi-final tie against Chivas. In preparation for their second leg against Tijuana, NYRB shocked Portland 4-0 in the season opener, opting to start many USL and academy players. New York were still the better side in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Salt Lake where Nick Rimando was in top form, making two of the best saves in the league all weekend. They face Minnesota and travel to Orlando before their first leg in Mexico on 4 April.

6 Houston Dynamo [1-1-1]

Houston have one of the best attacks in all the MLS so far this year, with Alberth Ellis leading the way with two goals and three assists. The Dynamo lead the league in shots on goal (20) and look way better on the field than their record indicates. They shocked the league destroying Atlanta 4-0 in the home opener and followed it up with a 2-1 loss in Vancouver despite having 68% possession and a 21-7 shot advantage. They were terribly unlucky to leave D.C. with only one point, giving up a 97th-minute equaliser after failing to add to their early 2-0 lead.

5 LAFC [2-0-0]

The expansion club made headlines in back-to-back weeks, defeating Seattle 1-0 on the road and dismantling Real Salt Lake 5-1. Uruguayan import Diego Rossi has become a sensation, scoring three goals and assisting on three more.  The 20-year-old will have to wait another week to show off his talents in the inaugural derby match against the Galaxy.

4 Toronto FC [0-0-2]

Like the Red Bulls, Toronto are completely focused on the CONCACAF Champions League after shocking Tigres on away goals. TFC still looked extremely tough in a 2-0 loss to Columbus and a 1-0 defeat in the 401 derby.  They have the week off before hosting Real Salt Lake just four days before their first leg CCL semi-final tie against Club America.

3 Atlanta United [2-0-1]

After a shock 4-0 defeat against Houston in the opener, Atlanta have bounced back and looked like one of the most organised teams in the league. Some may say they played a very bad D.C. United team and were up a man for 77 minutes against Vancouver, both at home, but this team is full of offensive weapons.  Josef Martinez scored his fourth-career hat-trick last week in only his 23rd match, giving him a league-best four for the season and 23 for his career. Midfielder Miguel Almirón leads the league in shots (21). Atlanta have the week off before they travel to Minnesota

2 NYCFC [3-0-0]

NYCFC had no trouble brushing aside Orlando without David Villa.  The club has played with a stout defence and an electrifying attack in each of their three matches and head off to New England this weekend as big favourites.  This team has a real chance to start the season with at least six straight wins, as they’ll head to San Jose before hosting RSL.

1 Columbus Crew [2-1-0]

Columbus has started the season with a road victory over the defending champions, a stoppage-time winner, and a road draw against undefeated Philadelphia.  Gyasi Zardes looks like a man possessed out on the pitch, scoring three times in their first two matches, including a 94th-minute penalty to defeat Montreal. Despite not scoring against Philly, Zardes looks like he could be an MVP candidate with his new club.  They host D.C. United on Saturday in what should be a comfortable victory.