MLS Power Rankings: Atlanta United stay top, Red Bulls move up; Quakes stay bottom

Atlanta United's draw wasn't enough to knock them off top spot, but the New York Red Bulls move up two spots in the latest Power Rankings.


1. Atlanta United

Record: 14W-6D-4L
Week 22 ranking: 1

Josef Martinez is now just one goal away from tying the single-season record after scoring twice against Toronto FC, though the brace is likely little comfort in a draw that should have been a win.

2. New York Red Bulls

Record: 14-2-6
Week 22 ranking: 4

Once again, Bradley Wright-Phillips rides to the rescue for the Red Bulls. The Englishman played provider on Daniel Royer's winning goal, expertly bringing down a long ball and playing the perfect pass.

3. Portland Timbers

Record: 10-7-3
Week 22 ranking: 5

The Timbers dodged a few bullets against a B-team Philadelphia side at home on Saturday before a penalty set them on their way to a win. The unbeaten run for Giovanni Savarese & Co. now stands at 15 games.


4. New York City FC

Record: 13-5-5
Week 22 ranking: 2

NYCFC fell behind at home, scrambled to a lead with goals on each side of the halftime whistle, then conceded an equalizer late in the game. Very unlike the New Yorkers, who dropped just their third and fourth points of the year at Yankee Stadium.

5. Columbus Crew SC

Record: 10-6-7
Week 22 ranking: 8

No game on the weekend for the Crew just means more time to reintegrate the returning Justin Meram.

6. FC Dallas

Record: 12-6-4
Week 22 ranking: 6

Jesse Gonzalez may never have a worse night than he did on Saturday. The talented young keeper was complicit on both of the goals that San Jose needed to score a surprising win in Frisco.


7. LAFC

Record: 10-6-6
Week 22 ranking: 3

A trip to Red Bull Arena is never an easy thing, and it was no different for Bob Bradley's team. LAFC played well enough to get something from the game, but two simple defensive errors did them in.

8. LA Galaxy

Record: 10-5-8
Week 22 ranking: 7

No Zlatan, no party. The Galaxy missed the Swede's goal-scoring exploits in Colorado, where without him his club was unable to overcome its problem giving up late goals. A nine-game unbeaten run is now over.

9. Sporting Kansas City

Record: 10-6-6
Week 22 ranking: 10

Diego Rubio scored the goal, but the rightful focus on Sporting's winner in a 1-0 victory in Houston was 16-year old Gianluca Busio. The third-youngest player ever to start an MLS game showed off the creativity that earned him a shot under Peter Vermes.

10. Seattle Sounders FC

Record: 8-5-9
Week 22 ranking: 11

The Sounders are like a reverse-Cinderella; With a massive comeback win in Minnesota, the defending Western Conference champs are now on a four-game winning streak as part of a seven-game unbeaten run. A playoff spot is just five points away.


11. Houston Dynamo

Record: 7-6-9
Week 22 ranking: 9

The Dynamo were undone by an early red card to Alejandro Fuenmayor, who left his elbow high on a challenge in the 14th minute. Adding insult to injury, two more reds (plus one for Wilmer Cabrera) means a shorthanded team heads to Columbus next week.

12. Vancouver Whitecaps

Record: 8-6-9
Week 22 ranking: 13

A bonus road point for the Caps, who scored just the second draw of the season by any visiting team to New York against NYCFC. Erik Hurtado stepped up as a substitute in an otherwise frustrating season.

13. Toronto FC

Record: 6-5-11
Week 22 ranking: 16

Wins are better than draws for TFC, but a point against Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium is better than nothing. The real issue for the Reds will be the fallout from Chris Mavinga's red card.


14. Montreal Impact

Record: 9-2-13
Week 22 ranking: 12

A point at home against DC United kept the Impact tied with the Revolution for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The result was fair, but Remi Garde's team needs to win at home to lock down that postseason spot.

15. New England Revolution

Record: 7-8-7
Week 22 ranking: 14

The Revs should have had a win against Orlando City on the road in Florida but let three points slip on an added time set piece. On the positive end, the draw broke a three-game losing streak for New England.

16. Minnesota United

Record: 9-1-13
Week 22 ranking: 15

Fine margins for the Loons, who hit the post on multiple occasions ahead of an added-time, penalty-assisted collapse against the Sounders. It might be the most painful home loss for any team in MLS this season.

17. Real Salt Lake

Record: 10-4-9
Week 22 ranking: 18

RSL clung to its spot in the Western Conference playoff places with a 2-1 win over Chicago at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, led by two Damir Kreilach goals. The win snapped a three-game winless streak on Mike Petke's return from suspension.

18. Philadelphia Union

Record: 8-3-11
Week 22 ranking: 17

Prioritizing an Open Cup semifinal against Chicago in midweek, Jim Curtin rested seven starters on the road in Portland. The Union has a chance to take a lead and play for at least a point, but nothing came together at the attacking end.

19. D.C. United

Record: 4-6-9
Week 22 ranking: 19

United's trip to Montreal ended 1-1, with both sides hitting the woodwork twice. A draw was a good result for the Black and Red, who still have a home-heavy schedule ahead to help support the playoff push.


20. Orlando City

Record: 7-2-14
Week 22 ranking: 21

Playoff teams win home games against clubs struggling through poor stretches, so the Lions' 3-3 draw with New England on Saturday doesn't bode well for the drive to the postseason. The fightback was admirable, but the result wasn't good enough.

21. Colorado Rapids

Record: 5-5-12
Week 22 ranking: 22


The change of scenery certainly seems to be working for the Rapids and for Kellyn Acosta. The midfielder's second goal in two games since arriving from Dallas helped Colorado to a massive three home points against LA on Saturday.

22. Chicago Fire

Record: 6-5-13
Week 22 ranking: 20

This might have been the week when the Fire threw in the towel on the playoffs in 2018. Veljko Paunovic rotated his side ahead of an Open Cup semifinal in midweek and Chicago dropped a must-win game in Utah.

23. San Jose Earthquakes

Record: 3-7-11
Week 22 ranking: 23

The Quakes finally managed a win against a team other than Minnesota United by pulling off a shocking 3-1 result in Frisco. As impressive as it was, San Jose benefited from two egregious goalkeeping errors and therefore remains bottom of the rankings.