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MLS Power Rankings Week 16: Portland Timbers rocket into top 10
It was another abbreviated week in Major League Soccer with the Concacaf Gold Cup group stage winding down. Only half of the teams were active in Week 16 so there will again be little movement in the Pro Soccer USA MLS Power Rankings.
The one team that impressed the most was the Portland Timbers, who rocked up the rankings this week after an eye-opening 4-0 win over the Houston Dynamo at Providence Park Saturday.
With a full slate of games, including six in the midweek, there’s bound to be changes ahead.
The Major League Soccer Power Rankings are created by averaging the rankings submitted by a committee of Pro Soccer USA’s editors and writers.
(1) Los Angeles Football Club (11-1-4, 37 points): The Supporters’ Shield leaders play just their second game of June Friday night when they head to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to meet the in-form Colorado Rapids. (2) Philadelphia Union (9-4-4, 31 points): The first-place team in the Eastern Conference shake off the cobwebs and play their first league game in nearly 20 days when they head to Gillette Stadium to meet the Revolution. Then it’s on to square off against NYCFC in a pair of massive six-pointers. (3) Atlanta United (8-5-2, 26 points): The Five Stripes also meet a pair of Eastern Conference foes this week, beginning with a road match against Toronto FC Wednesday night before returning home to face the Montreal Impact. (4) D.C. United (7-4-6, 27 points): it’s also a double-game week for the Black-and-Red, who host Orlando City SC and Toronto FC at Audi Field. (5) New York City FC (5-1-8, 23 points): The Cityzens’ MLS-best 10-match unbeaten streak is on the line when they host the Union at Yankee Stadium Saturday night. (6) Seattle Sounders FC (7-4-5, 26 points): The Sounders hope to snap a three-match losing streak when they host Cascadia rival Vancouver at CenturyLink Stadium Saturday night. (7) New York Red Bulls (7-6-3, 24 points): The Red Bulls return to league play Friday night with a tricky match against the Chicago Fire, which have two of the last three encounters, including 2-1 at Red Bull Arena last April. (8) LA Galaxy (10-6-1, 31 points): It was a tidy return to league play for the Galaxy, who defeated FC Cincinnati, 2-0, on goals by Emmanuel Boateng and Favio Alvarez three minutes apart early in the first half. (9) FC Dallas (7-6-4, 25 points): Dominique Badji struck for a brace and Bressan headed in a Michael Barrios’ corner kick in a convincing 3-0 win over Toronto FC at Toyota Stadium. (20) Portland Timbers (5-7-2, 17 points): Diego Valeri had assists and converted from the penalty spot and Brian Fernandez continued his torrid start to his MLS career in a 4-0 rout of the Houston Dynamo. (12) Real Salt Lake (6-8-2, 20 points): After conceding inside the opening five minutes, Albert Rusnak leveled from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire Saturday night. (13) Montreal Impact (8-7-3, 27 points): The Impact face a difficult return to MLS play, hosting the Timbers Wednesday night before heading to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to meet Atlanta United. (10) Houston Dynamo (7-4-3, 24 points): Wilmer Cabrera’s squad are practically unbeatable at BBVA Stadium, but their struggles away home continued Saturday night with a 4-0 defeat at Portland. (11) Toronto FC (5-7-4, 19 points): Shorthanded due to international call-ups, Toronto FC fell to FC Dallas, 3-0, in their return from the Gold Cup break. (14) Orlando City SC (5-7-3, 18 points): A 25-day break between league games is over for the Lions, who play at D.C. United Wednesday night before squaring off against Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium. (15) New England Revolution (4-8-4, 16 points): Unbeaten in four straight games since a coaching change, the Revs host the Union Wednesday night before the Dynamo come to Gillette Stadium Saturday. (16) San Jose Earthquakes (5-6-4, 19 points): Unbeaten in their last four, the Quakes return to MLS action against Houston Wednesday before the California Clasico Saturday against the LA Galaxy. (17) Colorado Rapids (4-9-4, 16 points): Diego Rubio and Andre Shinyashiki scored inside the opening 20 minutes, but the Rapids couldn’t maintain the two-goal lead and drew the Whitecaps 2-2 at BC Place. (18) Minnesota United FC (6-7-3, 21 points): The Loons return after a 21-day Gold Cup break looking to snap a three-match losing streak when they host reeling FC Cincinnati Saturday. (19) Sporting Kansas City (4-5-7, 19 points): Felipe Gutierrez scored three minutes after halftime in a 1-0 victory over Columbus Crew SC Saturday, Sporting head to Real Salt Lake Saturday. (22) Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4-6-7, 19 points): Fredy Montero scored from the penalty spot late in the first half and Yordy Reyna leveled 10 minutes from full time as the Whitecaps rallied from a two-goal deficit to forge a 2-2 draw with the Rapids. (23) Chicago Fire (4-6-7, 19 points): Aleksandar Katai put the Fire in front after five minutes, but Chicago settled for a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake after Albert Rusnak equalized from the penalty spot later in the first half. (22) Columbus Crew SC (5-10-2, 17 points): The winless streak is now five games, which includes four losses, after the Crew lost to Sporting Kansas City, 1-0, at home Saturday. (24) FC Cincinnati (3-12-2, 11 points): The losing streak is five games and the expansion side has dropped 10 of their last 11 games after a 2-0 home loss to the LA Galaxy.Pro Soccer USA writers Dylan Butler and Joe Tansey contributed to this report.
The post MLS Power Rankings Week 16: Portland Timbers rocket into top 10 appeared first on Pro Soccer USA.
Original author: Dylan Butler, Pro Soccer USA
