BIGGEST MOVERS: RSL +5 spots | Seattle -4 spots
1
LAST: 1
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14
Didn't put in a 5-star performance, but does it really matter? Only one loss in 11, only three losses all year, and they just added another talented young player who can give high-level minutes at two spots.
Latest result: Won vs. Montreal, 2-1
Last five results: W-L-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Friday at Real Salt Lake (UniMás)
2
LAST: 3
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Sigh. They're back.
Latest result: Won vs. San Jose, 5-2
Last five results: W-W-L-W-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at Houston
3
LAST: 4
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Dallas have been very, very very good since Kellyn Acosta moved into central midfield along with Victor Ulloa. That in turn has freed up Mauro Diaz to make magic.
Latest result: Won vs. D.C. United, 2-1
Last five results: D-W-W-W-W
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Portland
4
LAST: 2
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Last goal scored by a D.C. United player was nearly a month ago. Perhaps Alvaro Saborio can fix that this weekend? He has the pedigree, but at 33 he's not the same player he was two years ago.
Latest results: Lost at Dallas, 2-1
Last five results: W-W-D-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Philadelphia (ESPN2)
5
LAST: 7
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11
Going to Portland - who always play the 'Caps off the park - and getting an 11-v-11 draw is just as impressive as those Eastern Conference road wins they racked up last month. Credit, by the way, to their young central defense of Tim Parker (rookie) and Christian Dean (2nd year) for holding the fort.
Latest result: Drew at Portland, 1-1
Last five results: W-W-L-L-D
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. San Jose
6
LAST: 8
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 17
RBNY have found Homegrown answers at right back and central defense, and Red Bulls II helped groom Anatole Abang for some grunt work up top. But this team still lacks the depth of the MLS elites.
Latest result: Won at Orlando City, 2-0
Last five results: W-W-L-W-W
Next MLS match: August 1 at Philadelphia
7
LAST: 5
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16
Two points lost, and an opportunity lost. With a full lineup at home, it's hard not to feel like the Timbers should've put that game away.
Latest result: Drew vs. Vancovuer, 1-1
Last five results: L-W-W-L-D
Next MLS match: Saturday at Dallas
8
LAST: 9
HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16
A smart gameplan and an MVP candidate can win you a lot of games. The defense still needs some major repair work, however.
Latest result: Won vs. Philadelphia, 2-1
Last five results: W-D-L-D-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at Columbus
9
LAST: 13
HIGH: 4 | LOW: 15
Wil Trapp's return seems to have caused an uptick in Columbus' performance, from front to back. Will it hold against a sterner test than the Fire could provide, though?
Latest result: Won vs. Chicago, 3-1
Last five results: D-W-L-W-W
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Toronto
10
LAST: 6
HIGH: 1 | LOW: 10
Enjoy it now, folks. The Sounders will return to their winning ways once ObaDeuce and Brad Evans are all back and ready to go.
Latest result: Lost vs. Colorado, 1-0
Last five results: L-L-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday at Montreal
11
LAST: 10
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 17
The Power Rankings Politburo have the feeling that Monday's salary-clearing trade presages some transfer window additions for OCSC.
Latest result: Lost vs. New York, 2-0
Last five results: L-W-D-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at NYCFC (FOX Sports 1)
12
LAST: 17
HIGH: 5 | LOW: 17
A jump in the rankings based upon Joao Plata finally looking healthy, Justen Glad looking 100% ready to be an MLS starter, and the realization that Javier Morales is probably immortal and will still be doing this in 2075.
Latest result: Won vs. Houston, 2-0
Last five results: L-D-D-L-W
Next MLS match: Friday vs. Sporting KC (UniMás)
13
LAST: 11
HIGH: 8 | LOW: 18
We understand the attack struggling without Chris Wondolowski. We don't understand what happened to the previously solid defense in LA. The Galaxy can't possibly be that good, right?
Latest result: Lost at LA, 5-2
Last five results: W-W-L-L-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at Vancouver
14
LAST: 12
HIGH: 9 | LOW: 20
The Impact have a well-rounded roster, but they continue to be absolutely feeble away from home.
Latest result: Lost at Sporting KC, 2-1
Last five results: L-D-L-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Seattle
15
LAST: 18
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20
"Winning ugly" is still "winning." Shout-out to Clint Irwin, who's had an under-the-radar All-Star caliber season.
Latest result: Won at Seattle, 1-0
Last five results: L-L-W-W-W
Next MLS match: August 1 vs. LA
16
LAST: 20
HIGH: 2 | LOW: 20
The goal was a beautiful painting. We're betting Jay Heaps was even happier about the shutout his team kept. We're also betting he has a "Jermaine's Return From Injury" countdown clock on his nightstand.
Latest result: Won vs. NYCFC, 1-0
Last five results: L-L-L-L-W
Next MLS match: Saturday at Chicago
17
LAST: 14
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 18
Will Cubo be able to fix this? The Dynamo are arguably the most hit-and-miss team in the league, but the root cause is chance generation more than shoddy finishing.
Latest result: Lost at Real Salt Lake, 2-0
Last five results: L-L-D-W-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. LA
18
LAST: 15
HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20
Still very obviously a work in progress. Luckily for them the East is such a mess that they're a single win below the red line.
Latest result: Lost at New England, 1-0
Last five results: W-L-W-D-L
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Orlando City (FOX Sports 1)
19
LAST: 16
HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20
Over the next month they'll play six games against conference foes. We'll know by mid-August if this team is going to scrap its way into playoff contention.
Latest result: Lost at Toronto, 2-1
Last five results: L-W-D-W-L
Next MLS match: Sunday at D.C. United (ESPN2)
20
LAST: 19
HIGH: 11 | LOW: 20
The image captured in this tweet neatly summarizes Chicago's main problem since about 2009.
Latest result: Lost at Columbus, 3-1
Last five results: L-D-W-L-L
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. New England
Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks are written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@mlsanalyst).
