[ad_1]
It’s Monday and another week of MLS matches are in the books, which means it’s time for the ESPN power rankings.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (US)
Our power rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics (points per game, goal difference, expected goal difference), recent performance, Opta computer ratings and our writers’ feedback.
Who climbs the table? Who is in free fall? We’ve ranked all 29 clubs in the league after Round 15. Let’s dive in.
Previous ranking: 1
Even with the various injuries, Inter Miami’s depth looks strong ahead of a busy summer away from the team for Lionel Messi and others. It was another Leo – Leonardo Campana – who scored late to get Miami to three points against the capital
Previous ranking: 2
FC Cincinnati, the league leader in points per game, has been very effective in 2024. It doesn’t matter that Aaron Popendza wasn’t a factor or that the right-back position was a revolving door.
Previous ranking: 3
This RSL team isn’t perfect, but do they have some juice? Chicho Arango and Andres Gomez had braces in the best game we’ve seen in a Rocky Mountain Cup in a long time. Real Salt Lake’s 5-3 win showed they can run over anyone.
Previous ranking: 6
No one has to worry about the Crew going through a seven-game winless streak. They have now won two in a row and are back on track. Columbus has just one league game before it travels to Mexico to face Pachuca in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
Previous ranking: 5
LAFC enjoyed the weekend, but we’re still learning something about this team: Olivier Giroud will be the starting No. 9 of the summer. The Frenchman was signed as a designated player last week.
Previous ranking: 4
Not that we need much confirmation, but the New York Red Bulls without Emil Forsberg in the starting lineup isn’t nearly as scary as RBNY with Forsberg in the starting lineup. That 2-1 loss to NYCFC hurt.
Previous ranking: 7
Eric Ramsey has found his preferred formation — he uses a 3-4-3 these days — and his team is starting to get results. The Loons have won four of five games after topping the Timbers on Saturday.
1:03
NYCFC pulls forward after finishing off Moncef Bakrar Albacete
NYCFC pulls forward after finishing off Moncef Bakrar Albacete
Previous ranking: 11
Win the Hudson River Derby? Checks. Moncef Bakrar scores his first goal in 2024 after 800 painful minutes? Checks. This NYCFC team is getting closer to being considered a true Cup contender.
Previous ranking: 8
Joseph Paintsil’s injury is unfortunate, although it won’t sideline him for long. But keeping a clean sheet against Charlotte FC is a positive for one of the worst defensive teams in MLS.
Previous ranking: 9
There’s nothing like a match against the Revs to get you back on track. Al-Ittihad has not won since April 6, but the red card from Ryan Spaulding tipped the balance in Saturday’s match in favor of Philly.
Previous ranking: 6
The Whitecaps haven’t made it through this tough stretch of their schedule with much success, but they look like a solid playoff team in the Western Conference. Their 1-1 draw in Seattle is the latest example of this.
Previous ranking: 10
Keeping Messi and company at bay is a good thing. Leaving Sergio Busquets open in midfield to pass to a reserve striker, who then puts the ball into the back of your net in stoppage time? This is less good. D.C. looks like a team with high upside, but its floor is lower than anyone would like in the nation’s capital.
Previous ranking: 13
Charlotte has quietly put together an impressive run of results and tied with the Galaxy this weekend. Dean Smith’s side are built on the back of their defence, which ranks fourth in the league in terms of zero penalties allowed per 90, according to FBref, Dean Smith’s side are a brutal team to play against.
Previous ranking: 15
They got off to a hot start against RSL, but atrocious goalkeeping cost the Rapids a chance to pick up three points. Zach Steffen was a problem for Colorado, allowing 0.42 more goals than expected per 90 minutes based on FBref data.
Previous ranking: 16
Hanging five goals on your rivals, who are also approaching complete chaos, is great. Toronto’s win over Montreal was the final reminder that Federico Bernardeschi is one of the best players ever to play in MLS.
Previous ranking: 12
Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis missed Atlanta United’s 1-1 draw in Nashville. Even with those two on the court, the Five Stripes performed well below expectations in 2024. Nashville’s Gary Smith was the first coach to leave. Atlanta’s Gonzalo Pineda could be the second.
Previous ranking: 14
Pedro de la Vega is back! In Seattle’s 1-1 draw with Vancouver, the Argentine made his first appearance for the Sounders since March 2. De la Vega has been suffering from a leg injury for two months and is still not fully ready to start the match. From the jump, but Seattle desperately needs him to be a difference-maker on offense.
Previous ranking: 17
Speaking of needing a difference maker, the Houston Dynamo. A lot of dynamo attacks come from flashy bits of construction that deflect directly through the opposing block. Then those attacks die in the last third.
Previous ranking: 18
Oscar Pareja is living, laughing and loving the 3-5-2 these days and his Orlando City side have reeled off three successive results since switching away from a 4-2-3-1 formation. The Lions enjoyed an ugly win on the road in San Jose.
Previous ranking: 19
Far more important than St. Louis’ loss to Cincinnati over the weekend is the situation the Lewin family faces. Midfielder Edward Lewin announced in a press conference last week that his wife has been diagnosed with cancer. We wish strength and perseverance to Ilona Lewin.
Previous ranking: 25
Daniel Pereira played in Austin FC’s 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City. Playing in a more advanced role on the right side of central midfield, Pereira set up two goals in the first half over the weekend. Virginia Tech cell, whoa.
Previous ranking: 21
Nashville became the first NFL team to part ways with its head coach this year when it let go of Gary Smith. The club’s pitch has declined in the last nine months due to Smith’s reactive tactical style and poor team building from the front office. One of these things has been addressed. We are waiting for the other.
Previous ranking: 26
The Timbers have allowed more than two goals in 10 straight games. Phil Neville has turned into a back five. Didn’t help.
Previous ranking: 20
Only one team in MLS shoots worse than Sporting Kansas City, who averaged 0.058 xG per shot in their loss to Austin. Peter Vermes was happy with his team’s effort, but fans should be less happy with the roster Vermes has created.
Previous ranking: 24
FC Dallas is not a good team, but they have managed to get results in six of their past eight matches in all competitions. A point down the road in Houston would be nice, thank you.
Previous ranking: 23
Hernan Lopez has added progress on the ball and goal-scoring progress since joining the Quakes, but the No.10 has struggled to create chances. Lopez has had just one key pass in his past three MLS matches and did not make an impact in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Orlando.
Previous ranking: 27
Who would have thought that a Chicago Fire team low on talent and devoid of a playmaker would struggle against the roster? Oh, that’s right. everyone.
Previous ranking: 22
It’s easy to fall in love with the way Laurent Courtois wants to play for Montreal. At their best, they are decisive and intelligent in possession. At their worst? They lost by four goals to Toronto.
Previous ranking: 29
A three-goal loss, an early red card, and Caleb Porter’s anger at reporters…things are going well for the worst team in the MLS.
[ad_2]
