MLS Week 10 Power Rankings: Did D.C. United Do Enough to Stay No. 1?

Week 10 of the 2015 MLS season is in the books, and once again, there were several dramatic outcomes.  D.C. United and the New England Revolution earned draws, the Seattle Sounders lost to the Columbus Crew and the Vancouver Whitecaps crushed the Philadelphia Union. These results have altered the power rankings for this week, so will there be a new No. 1? Here are the power rankings for Week 10.Begin Slideshow

MLS Power Rankings: Who Is the New No. 1 After Week 9?

MLS Week 9 has come to an end, and there were some monumental results that significantly altered the standings. The New England Revolution, D.C. United and FC Dallas picked up huge wins to move into a tie for first place in their respective conferences. Elsewhere, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers battled to a scoreless draw and the New York Red Bulls finally lost. These games not only influenced the MLS standings but this week's power rankings as well. There are a few teams on the rise, and one of them has claimed the No. 1 spot. Here are the MLS power rankings after Week 9.Begin Slideshow

Montreal Impact Winning CONCACAF Wouldn’t Have Altered MLS Landscape

The Montreal Impact were minutes away from a historic CONCACAF Champions League title. However, Club America showed its dominance in the final 45 minutes of the second leg in a 4-2 win in Montreal. It was a not-so-subtle reminder that MLS is still far behind Liga MX. Even if the Impact won the Champions League, this wouldn't have done anything to boost MLS' reputation. Cynics would have labelled Montreal's triumph as "lucky" and would still say the league cannot be taken seriously. Some of this criticism is fair. There are plenty of detriments in MLS. The low salary cap hinders teams' chances to compete in continental competitions. ESPN FC's Doug McIntyre claims that America's wages are 10 times higher than Montreal's. The squad rotation from both sides showed the vast difference in salary. Right-backs Hassoun Camara and Victor Cabrera were injured; plus Eric Miller was inexperienced, so midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker had to start on the right side of defense. Following goalkeeper Evan Bush's suspension, the Impact had to sign Kristian Nicht from Indy Eleven of the NASL. The team had to acquire Nicht because backup Eric Kronberg was cup-tied and third-choice Maxime Crepeau was recovering from injury. The Impact squad as a whole isn't the greatest ...

Montreal Impact Faced an Uphill Battle in CONCACAF, but Should Be Proud

The Montreal Impact's dream run in the CONCACAF Champions League came to a crashing halt on Wednesday. Montreal was beaten 4-2 in the second leg of the final by Mexican side Club America and 5-3 on aggregate. The Impact had a tough test, and they should feel proud of their achievements regardless of the score. ESPNFC's Tom Marshall quotes America head coach Gustavo Matosas: America, one of the biggest teams in Mexico, possess several quality players. Oribe Peralta, Dario Benedetto, Darwin Quintero, Paul Aguilar and Ventura Alvarado are just a few of the standouts in the squad. The financial gap is also incredibly wide. America's wage expenditure is approximately 10 times higher than Montreal's, per Doug McIntyre of ESPN FC. This is exactly why Mexican clubs have won the CONCACAF Champions League every year since the new format began in 2008. The Liga MX teams have better players and can spend a lot more than MLS sides and teams in Central America. Sportswriter Nicolino DiBenedetto had this to say: Because the Mexican sides don't have the tight restraints of a salary cap or a book full of roster rules, the depth is much stronger than the Impact, and even the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy, ...

MLS Power Rankings After Week 8: The East Takes Hold of the Top 3

Week 8 of the MLS season has concluded after an action-packed weekend. Several teams earned vital wins, while others continue to struggle.  The Seattle Sounders defeated their fierce rivals the Portland Timbers at CenturyLink Field on Sunday night. Clint Dempsey's goal was the difference in a 1-0 win.  Toronto FC ended its four-game losing streak by shutting out Orlando City SC, who have yet to win a match at home. The New York Red Bulls managed to stay undefeated by tying the LA Galaxy, but was it enough to keep them at No. 1? Here are the MLS power rankings after Week 8.Begin Slideshow

MLS Power Rankings Entering Week 8

MLS is already seven weeks old and teams are beginning to demonstrate their potential. The New York Red Bulls and Vancouver Whitecaps lead the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively, with D.C. United, the New England Revolution and FC Dallas hot on their tails. The MLS Power Rankings will determine how strong every team is so far in 2015. Criteria is mainly based on every game played this season, but recent form is also taken into account. If a particular club has had a better run of form than its opposition, it will be higher in the rankings. Here is the first installment of the MLS Power Rankings after Week 7.Begin Slideshow

MLS: 10 Things We Learned This Weekend

There was plenty of entertainment in MLS this weekend. The conference leaders earned wins, youngsters impressed and lightning strikes forced two teams to play into the wee hours of Sunday morning. Refereeing performances were also criticized after two major decisions affected Real Salt Lake's game against the Vancouver Whitecaps. A few teams are also being held back by persistent issues, which cost them dearly in Week 7. Here are 10 things we learned this weekend in Major League Soccer.Begin Slideshow

MLS: Keys to Every Game in Week 7

MLS Week 7 started early with New York City FC hosting the Philadelphia Union on Thursday in a rematch from last Saturday.  Friday's UniMas game features the undefeated New York Red Bulls against the San Jose Earthquakes at Red Bull Arena. Saturday has a full slate of matches, beginning with D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo and culminating with the LA Galaxy welcoming Sporting Kansas City in the late kickoff. Sunday's nationally televised games should be entertaining, with the Union battling the New England Revolution on ESPN2. NYCFC and the Portland Timbers will square off to finish the week. Here are the keys to every match this week.Begin Slideshow

MLS: 8 Things We Learned This Weekend

The MLS weekend is over with several interesting storylines emerging in the aftermath of the games.  Orlando City SC defeated the Portland Timbers as the Lions recorded their second win of the season. Meanwhile, the LA Galaxy snapped their four-game winless skid after topping the Seattle Sounders at the Stubhub Center on Sunday. The Vancouver Whitecaps' four-match winning streak ended in San Jose on Saturday. The New York Red Bulls overturned a 2-0 deficit to draw their fierce rival D.C. United earlier in the day, plus the Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids earned their first victories of the campaign. Here are eight things we learned this past weekend in MLS.Begin Slideshow

MLS: Keys to Every Game This Weekend

MLS Matchday 6 began on Wednesday with the Vancouver Whitecaps drawing the Columbus Crew at home, but there are nine matches this weekend, many of which are very enticing matchups. FC Dallas faces the Colorado Rapids on Friday in the first game of the weekend as the Hoops try to bounce back from their loss to the Portland Timbers. The New England Revolution host the Crew on Saturday in a rematch from the playoffs last year. Meanwhile, D.C. United will try to avenge the team's 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls from March 22. Sunday is highlighted by two of the most entertaining matches of the week. The Portland Timbers will welcome Orlando City SC to town in the early kickoff. The LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders will cap off the day in their first meeting since the Western Conference final last season. Here are the keys to every game this weekend.Begin Slideshow