FRISCO - As the season progresses, the MLS power rankings story gets more interesting. FC Dallas’ 1-1 draw versus New York City FC had the club drop to its lowest point of the season in one ranking while the defending Supporters’ Shield winners stood pat in others.
What does this mean? Every expert has a different opinion. To that end, I think you can make a valid case for every spot where FC Dallas landed.
FC Dallas hosts San Jose Saturday at Toyota Stadium. The Quakes are 4-4-3 on the season (15 points) and post a 1-4-1 road record. Remember, FC Dallas and San Jose played to a 1-1 draw earlier this season.
WATCH: FC Dallas vs. San Jose Earthquakes - 7pm CT on TXA21 | Pre-game coverage starts at 6:30
ESPNFC
1. FC Dallas (no change) - Dallas holds on to the top spot -- just barely -- with a 1-1 draw against New York City FC that keeps its unbeaten start to the season alive. Kellyn Acosta continued his push into the MLS elite with his performance.
2. Toronto FC (no change)
3. Sporting Kansas City (+2)
4. Columbus Crew (+2)
5. Orlando City SC (-2)
11. San Jose Earthquakes (-1) Parity reared its head in the Quakes' results over the past two weeks: A 3-0 thrashing of Portland and 3-0 loss to the lowly Colorado Rapids.
MLS
1. Toronto FC (+1)
2. FC Dallas (-1) - The unbeaten run to start the season is now at nine and counting. It’s clearly going to take something special to defeat a Dallas team that's deep, gritty, balanced and stoic with quality all around the field. They may be six points off the Supporters’ Shield lead, but they have three games in hand on Toronto.
3. New York City FC (no change)
4. Sporting Kansas City (no change)
5. Orlando City SC (+1)
13. San Jose Earthquakes (-2) - Which squad is real - the 3-0 victors vs. Portland, or the 3-0 losers in Colorado? Avaya is likely a sight for sore eyes after 4-of-5 away ...
Soccer America
1. Toronto FC (+1)
2. New York City FC (+2)
3. FC Dallas (-2) Unable to get a second goal after Kellyn Acosta scored from a clever layoff from Max Urruti in the 20th minute, FCD paid the price for its squandered chances. An Urruti blast was tipped onto the crossbar, and the Curse of Cristian Colman continued when his low shot on a clean chance forced an excellent save. In seven games he has 11 shots and no goals or assists. But he’s doing a lot of the right things.
4. Sporting Kansas City (+1)
5. Houston (no change)
10. San Jose Earthquake (no change) - The glow from two solid wins rapidly dissolved as the Quakes struggled with altitude and a wildly pumped-up home team. Yet turnovers in bad spots produced the second and third goals and taking better care of the ball under pressure is essential this week; San Jose hosts Orlando City Wednesday and plays at FC Dallas on Saturday.
Sports Illustrated
1. FC Dallas (no change) - FC Dallas has yet to win more than two games in a row, but who cares when you start the season on a nine-game unbeaten run? Saturday’s 1–1 draw against NYCFC is a tiny bit of a disappointment at home, but it could easily have been a win were it not for some outstanding saves from NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson. FCD will have a chance to push its run into double digits when San Jose pays a visit on Saturday.
2. Toronto FC (no change)
3. New York City FC (+1)
4. Sporting Kansas City (+1)
5. Houston Dynamo (+2)
15. San Jose Earthquakes (-1) After two straight wins, the temptation was to think that this San Jose had finally turned the corner from mediocrity. Then it lost, 3–0, to the Colorado Rapids, who were riding a five-game losing streak coming into the game. This Earthquakes side is clearly more talented than it has been in the past, but really needs to find a way to grind out results for longer than two games at a time.
