📈 MLS Power Rankings: The east dominate the top-three

MLS continues to roll on and so do our Power Rankings. The top-10 is getting more and more solidified with each passing week, but let’s see who made big moves in the last seven days.

10. Houston Dynamo (🆕)

We kick off the ranking with a newcomer. Houston have slowly but surely worked their way into the playoff picture, and a 2-0 win over LAFC on the road is a surefire way to break into the top-10. If summer signing Ezequiel Ponce can continue to find the back of the net, the Dynamo could be a sneaky dark-horse in the Western Conference.

9. Portland Timbers (👍 last rank: 10)

The Timbers have been in and around 8-10 in our list since going on a scorching run this summer, but the Leagues Cup appeared to kill their momentum for a few weeks. Yet Phil Neville’s side bounced back with a gutsy win against hated rivals Seattle on Saturday, leapfrogging the Sounders in the standings in the process. While they have been poor defensively, the Timbers attacking force will strike fear in the hearts of Western Conference opponents come playoff time (should they qualify).

8. Orlando City (🆕)

Orlando are making a name for themselves in the dying weeks/months of the 2024 season. The form of Facundo Torres is a scary proposition for even the stoutest of opposition defenders, and his teammates have stepped up around him as well. With a comfortable 3-0 win over Nashville on Saturday, a game in which they only allowed one shot on target, Orlando gave themselves some breathing room in the top-seven.

7. Real Salt Lake (no movement)

RSL have been scorching-hot at times this season, but a small blip saw their Western Conference and Supporters Shield chances go out the window. Nonetheless, they remain one of the most watchable teams in the league and will surely play a part in the MLS Cup playoffs.

6. Colorado Rapids (no movement)

The Rapids continue to be a team that comes up clutch in the big moments. They did it throughout the Leagues Cup, and they did it once against FC Dallas, stunning the Frisco boys with a stoppage-time winner to hold onto their top-four spot in the west.

5. LA Galaxy (👎 last rank: 4)

The addition of Marco Reus seemed to pay off almost immediately for the LA Galaxy, but a defeat against a St. Louis City side that have struggled throughout large parts of the campaign may have ended the Galaxy’s Supporters Shield chances.

4. LAFC (👎 last rank: 3)

LAFC may beginning to lose to steam after ripping through most of the campaign so far this season, but they still remain the Western Conference’s best chance at silverware this season. A home loss to Houston is tough to stomach, but they get their chance at revenge just seven days later in Texas.

3. FC Cincinnati (👍 last rank: 5)

Pat Noonan’s men have been up and down in the last few weeks, but a comfortable win against Montréal reminded us all just how good they can be on their day, and they did that without Lucho Acosta and DeAndre Yedlin. Previously, Cincinnati were winless in 10 games without Acosta.

2. Columbus Crew (no movement)

The Crew keep on rolling, and they are beginning to become known for dramatic late wins. After doing so against LAFC in the Leagues Cup final last time out, Columbus put on a late, late show against NYCFC, scoring two goals in stoppage-time to earn another three points.

With their two games in hand on the rest of the Eastern Conference, the Crew could move into second-place comfortably.

1. Inter Miami (no movement)

We’re beginning to run out superlatives for the Herons. The absence of Leo Messi has hardly curtailed their race towards the Supporters Shield. An emphatic 4-1 win over Chicago took them one step closer to that title.