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MLS Power Rankings: Philadelphia still on top despite
Supporters' Shield setback as Toronto closes in
DIR By: The Referee
Date: November 2, 2020, 9:09 pm
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Jeff CarlisleAustin Lindberg-
The Philadelphia Union could've lifted the Supporters' Shield on
Sunday. They needed to beat Columbus, or at least a draw, and
some help from Inter Miami -- and elsewhere. Alas, they fell to
an 84th-minute defeat to the Crew, and to make matters worse,
they didn't get any help from Miami, who lost to Toronto FC. And
now, with the league announcing last week that the Shield and
playoff places would be determined by points per game, as
positive COVID-19 tests cause cancellations and postponements of
games across the league, the Union and the Reds sit atop the
standings: 22 games played and 2.00 points per game. Only goal
differential separates the pair, so as long as Philly can match
or better Toronto's Decision Day result, it will be crowned the
league's regular-season champion after all.
With a smattering of midweek games and Decision Day on Sunday
remaining, here's how the remainder of the league stacks up in
the final edition of MLS Power Rankings for the 2020 season.
1. Philadelphia Union
Previous ranking: 1
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. New England, 3:30 p.m. ET
Sunday's loss to Columbus was just Philadelphia's second in its
past eight games, but it cost the club dearly. Now the Union
will need to better Toronto's result on Sunday when they host
New England if they want to lift the Supporters' Shield that's
had their name written on it for the past month. Oh, and they'll
need to do it without star goalkeeper Andre Blake, who suffered
a fractured hand in Wednesday's win over Chicago.
2. Toronto FC
Previous ranking: 2
Next MLS match: Sunday at Red Bulls, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
A second Supporters' Shield in four seasons could be Toronto's
with a win at Red Bull Arena and some help from New England. Few
would've predicted that a week ago when the Reds were coming off
the back of a 5-0 hammering at the hands of league-leading
Philadelphia.
- Stream FC Daily on ESPN+
- 2020 MLS Playoffs: Who's in, who's out, dates and more
- MLS on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games and replays (U.S. only)
3. Sporting Kansas City
Previous ranking: 3
Next MLS match: Sunday at Salt Lake, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
While SKC's match with Minnesota was canceled following two
members of the Loons' first team testing positive for COVID-19,
a midweek win against FC Cincinnati clinched a spot in the
postseason with Roger Espinoza the hero. Alan Pulido showed off
his playmaking skills as well.
4. Portland Timbers
Previous ranking: 4
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Colorado, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Heading into 2020, the Timbers needed better wing play beyond
that provided by Sebastian Blanco, and they've gotten it from
Yimmi Chara, who has delivered with four goals and seven assists
since mid-September. A pair of wins has Portland top of the West
by a whisker.
5. Orlando City
Previous ranking: 6
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
This season marked the first time Orlando has qualified for the
MLS Cup playoffs. This season also marked Orlando's first win
over rivals Atlanta United following three years (nine contests)
without a victory. The Lions got their second just two months
later with Wednesday's 4-1 demolition of the Five Stripes. Oscar
Pareja has instilled a sense of ferociousness and pride in
Central Florida not seen in the club's previous five years of
MLS existence.
6. Seattle Sounders
Previous ranking: 5
Next MLS match: Wednesday at LA Galaxy, 11 p.m. ET, ESPN+
With a chance to claim the top spot in the West at stake,
Seattle delivered a subpar performance against Colorado on
Sunday with almost its entire first-choice lineup. There's time
to rescue the situation, but the Sounders will need some help.
7. New York City FC
Previous ranking: 8
Next MLS match: Sunday at Chicago, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
A pair of wins over Supporters' Shield-chasing Toronto and
playoff-contending rivals Red Bulls have given NYCFC some
breathing room, ensuring they'll be spared the Eastern
Conference's play-in round pitting seeds 7 through 10 against
one another for places in the playoffs proper.
8. LAFC
Previous ranking: 9
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Portland, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The momentum LAFC generated by their win over Houston was slowed
when their game against San Jose was postponed -- for now -- due
to positive COVID-19 tests. Bob Bradley will be hoping that
Carlos Vela can continue his return to form during the regular
season's final week.
9. Columbus Crew
Previous ranking: 10
Next MLS match: Wednesday at Orlando, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Sunday's win over league-leading Philadelphia was just Columbus'
second in its past eight games. Those three points keep the Crew
in Columbus once the postseason gets underway -- at least for
the first round.
10. New England Revolution
Previous ranking: 7
Next MLS match: Sunday at Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m. ET
After being shut out in a midweek defeat to the Red Bulls, the
Revs eked out a 4-3 comeback win over D.C. United on Sunday -- a
club whose points-per-game record is better than only
Cincinnati's. It's decidedly midtable form for an outfit sitting
12th in the 26-team table.
11. Minnesota United
Previous ranking: 11
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Chicago, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The Loons received a bit of good fortune against Colorado, with
an own goal turning into a late winner, but another bout with
COVID-19 saw Minnesota's game against Kansas City canceled.
Osvaldo Alonso's latest injury is another big concern heading
into the postseason.
12. Nashville SC
Previous ranking: 13
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Nashville became the fourth team in the expansion era to qualify
for the MLS Cup playoffs in its inaugural season with last
Tuesday's win over Montreal. With some help from league-leading
Philadelphia, they could leapfrog New England and bypass the
East's play-in round with positive results against Dallas and
Orlando.
13. FC Dallas
Previous ranking: 14
Next MLS match: Wednesday at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
A pair of wins over Miami and Houston were enough to put FCD in
the postseason. Ryan Hollingshead has quietly put together a
solid season at left-back, and grabbed the game-winner against
Miami last Wednesday.
14. San Jose Earthquakes
Previous ranking: 15
Next MLS match: Sunday at Seattle, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Sunday's match with LAFC was postponed, but the Quakes did the
critical work in midweek when they beat Real Salt Lake 2-0,
putting them in solid position to make the playoffs. Chris
Wondolowski remains a wonder after netting his fifth and sixth
goals of the season.
15. New York Red Bulls
Previous ranking: 12
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Toronto, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Wednesday's 1-0 win over New England has the Red Bulls in the
postseason for the 11th straight year. They followed it up by
getting blown out 5-2 by rivals NYCFC, though, and with two wins
from their past eight, it's hard to imagine the New Jersey
natives making much noise in the playoffs.
16. Colorado Rapids
Previous ranking: 16
Next MLS match: Wednesday at Portland, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Since returning from their COVID-induced hiatus, the Rapids have
found the going difficult, but a 3-1 win over Seattle got
Colorado back to winning ways, with the team's prowess from set
pieces returning at the perfect time.
17. Chicago Fire
Previous ranking: 17
Next MLS match: Wednesday at Minnesota, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Taking one point from a week of games against Philadelphia and
Nashville, Chicago occupies the East's final play-in place. Much
can change on Decision Day, with five clubs contesting ninth and
10th place in the conference separated by just 0.10 points per
game. A midweek trip to Minnesota and hosting NYCFC on Sunday
will prove a tall order for the Fire, but for the time being
they hold on to a postseason place.
18. Vancouver Whitecaps
Previous ranking: 18
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. LA Galaxy, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The Caps put in a credible effort, but the Timbers just have
more quality in key parts of the field. The playoff hopes are
still alive, but only if San Jose makes up its game against
LAFC.
19. Montreal Impact
Previous ranking: 19
Next MLS match: Sunday at D.C. United, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Montreal's in the same position as Chicago: in a playoff place,
but with four other teams in range of laying claim to it. But
having lost nine of 12 and not playing a game at Stade Saputo
since Sept. 9, it's not difficult to envision the Impact falling
short of the postseason in Thierry Henry's first season in
charge of the club.
20. D.C. United
Previous ranking: 22
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Montreal, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
D.C. deserves its rise in the rankings following its narrow win
over contending Columbus and heartbreaking late defeat to New
England, but that United still have the second-worst
points-per-game ratio in the league despite going 3-1-2 since
Ben Olsen's dismissal as manager demonstrates how large a hole
the club had dug itself this year.
21. Atlanta United FC
Previous ranking: 23
Next MLS match: Sunday at Columbus, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Atlanta was humbled by rival Orlando on Wednesday, but rebounded
for a 2-0 win over Cincinnati. The victory over the league's
worst side was just the team's second in its past nine games,
with the only other three points coming against hapless D.C.
United.
22. LA Galaxy
Previous ranking: 25
Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Seattle, 11 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The Guillermo Barros Schelotto era ended with a whimper while
the (latest) Dominic Kinnear era began with a win and --
surprise! -- a lot more defensive organization. The scant
playoff hopes are still alive but, alas, Jonathan dos Santos is
injured again.
23. Inter Miami CF
Previous ranking: 20
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Goals from Designated Players Rodolfo Pizarro and Blaise Matuidi
in the past week gave Miami some return on their sizable
investment, but both goals came in losses to Dallas and Toronto.
The third of Inter's high-priced DPs, Gonzalo Higuain, hasn't
scored since Oct. 7, while fellow expansion outfit Nashville has
quietly qualified for the playoffs without any of the glitz,
glamour or corresponding expectation that's proven debilitating
for Miami.
24. Real Salt Lake
Previous ranking: 21
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Kansas City, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
RSL has been trending downward all month, and on Sunday their
faint playoff hopes were finally extinguished with a 2-1 loss to
the Galaxy. And with Sam Johnson and the club parting ways, at
least now the search for a new striker can officially begin.
25. Houston Dynamo
Previous ranking: 24
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Colorado, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The Dynamo's playoff hopes are officially done after a loss to
Dallas, a match in which Houston lost far too many individual
battles in the box. The Dynamo front office has a lot of work to
do during the offseason to revamp the team's defense.
26. FC Cincinnati
Previous ranking: 26
Next MLS match: Sunday at Miami, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Two games, two shutout defeats for Cincinnati. FCC will need to
score four times in Miami to avoid the ignominious title of the
lowest-scoring team in MLS history (held by 2013 D.C. United at
0.65 goals per game) with a goals-per-game average dipping to
just 0.50 following their latest losses.
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