Another week with a full slate of games finds all teams a mere seven matches from the end of the regular season. As it stands now, no one has officially clinched a playoff spot, but as Columbus sits eleven points clear of the two teams occupying the last playoff spots in the East (DC and the NYRB), it would take a catastrophic collapse for them not to make it. And really (knock on wood), with Guillermo Barros Schelotto creating assists like a magician pulling rabbits from a hat, it’s hard to imagine that happening. In the West, Houston is not in quite as good of shape, but they still are eight points up on third place Chivas, and look nearly a lock for the playoffs, too, especially given their recent form. Thus, it’s no surprise that these two teams head the Power Rankings. The other big story is out in California, where the ‘Quakes continue to make a late playoff push. They’re still a couple of points back from Chivas, but with six of their last seven against the West and four at home, they’re fate is probably in their hands. They face a tough two-game stretch against Houston coming up, but if they can find four (or even two) points from that, they’ll be in good shape.
Anyway, on to the rankings!
1. Columbus (LW = 1) (PS = 7.86)
Sure, we know that the Revs were tired and injury-riddled and all that, but Columbus wasn’t fully stocked either with Hejduk and Moreno busy with World Cup qualifying. Nonetheless, the Crew put constant pressure on the Revs and turned in a butt-whipping unlike any that I’ve seen in my relatively short (two year) tenure as a hardcore Crew fan. What is that strange sensation in my chest? A heart attack, or is it merely hope?
2. Houston (2) (6.75)
In the first half of the season, Houston tied game that they should have won. Now, those games are being turned into three points. Seriously, this isn’t just some invented storyline — I’m not just putting lipstick on a pig, for instance — Houston hasn’t tied a league match since July 3, and have won six of seven.
3. Chicago (4) (6.42)
Chicago continues to get it done with defense. They’ve allowed a league-low eighteen in twenty-three matches, and seem to subsist on 1-0 victories. (Okay, that’s just an illusion — they have only four on the season.) Nonetheless, the vaunted Blanco and McBride pairing, while alternately exciting and nauseating to hardcore fans of the U.S. national team and the Tricolores, isn’t the real story of a pretty darn good Fire season.
4. San Jose (6) (6.14)
Guess who’s second in goals allowed this season? You got it! The ‘Quakes have allowed twenty-seven (a far cry from Chicago’s number), but truly stunning for an expansion team. Also, their low goal output for the season as a whole explains why they’re finally excelling now — they had the defense, but needed offense. Now that Darren Huckerby is doing his best Schelotto impression (one goal and one assist this past weekend), they’re the team no one wants to play. Thankfully, the Crew doesn’t have to.
5. Chivas USA (9) (5.41)
Chivas claws their way back to a playoff spot, but need to fend off San Jose if they want to stay there. It’s a tough assignment for sure, and with four road games in their last seven, including road tilts with the Revs, DC United (deadly at home still), and, you guessed it, the ‘Quakes, it may well come down to the wire.
6. New England (5) (5.26)
This week, we get to find out if the Revs are truly reeling, or if the beat-down by Columbus just pissed them off. I think that a return to the field by stalwart Steve Ralston could have a major impact. Personally, I like the Revs, so I hope that they manage to recover in time to be beaten again by the Crew during the playoffs.
7. New York (3) (5.18)
After reeling off three straight wins, New York is getting back to early-season form with a loss and a tie in their last two. The Red Bulls are still six points in the clear for a playoff spot, so they’re probably safe, but a schedule with two games against the Crew and one against the Fire remaining doesn’t do them too many favors.
8. Real Salt Lake (8) (4.54)
RSL keeps on hanging around, getting a tie here and a win there whenever their postseason hopes look to be in danger. They have work still to do, but it’s hard to bet against a team to make the playoffs when they are as strong at home as RSL.
9. DC United (7) (4.48)
DC needs to get their feet back under them. While they’re still in a good position for the playoffs, tied with the Red Bulls, they’re definitely struggling. And the worst part for them is that they actually still have to participate in the CONCACAF Champions League.
10. Colorado (14) (4.41)
Colorado, left for dead a week ago (when I called them the worst team in MLS), won on the road against FC Dallas last weekend. And just as I was shocked — shocked! — then that they were three poins out of a playoff spot, I’m still shocked now. The Rapids aren’t that good, but the West is so bad that no one is really out of it yet.
11. Los Angeles (13) (3.57)
And when I say that no one is out of it yet, I’m talking about the Galaxy. They’re four points out of a playoff spot, and Bruce Arena seems to have had the effect of raising the level of the defense to the point where they now allow precisely the same number of goals that they’re vaunted offense can score. The Galaxy have it all to do now, but with the return from WCQ of Donovan and Beckham, they can still do it.
12. Kansas City (11) (3.35)
On the other hand, I’m starting to lose faith that the Wizards will make anything of this season, as they look to be on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. Yes, they have five matches left at home, and they’re a pretty decent home team, but they need results and they need them quickly. The visit from LA should be fun to watch, as Hartman will have plenty of opportunities to make saves.
13. FC Dallas (10) (3.32)
Oh, Dallas, what has happened? Kenny Cooper went on a scoring jag for a few games and it looked like the Hoops might overcome a coaching change and the loss of an underperforming Juan Toja to Romania. But then Cooper cooled off, and Dallas is just looking plain bad, losing to the Rapids at home.
14. Toronto (12) (3.11)
Toronto got screwed. Okay, I admit it. They got shafted by the league in scheduling. I hope this leads to changes in MLS’s treatment of international dates. But look, Toronto wasn’t going to make the playoffs, even if they could get back the points that they lost this past weekend.
Tags: MLS, Power Ranking, PowerScore
