MLS Rankings: Week 13

Every week the New England Soccer Today crew will look beyond the standings to rank each of the 18 Major League Soccer (MLS) teams. This week Brian O’Connell and Sean Donahue contributed rankings. Comments are followed by the ranker’s name and the rank they gave that team.

1. Los Angeles Galaxy (8-2-7, 31 points) – The Gals may have the most points in MLS, but they haven’t proven that they’re the best. Then again, no team really has in a season where mediocrity reigns supreme. (Brian – 1) … Can’t be happy with a home draw against Toronto, especially after taking a stoppage time lead. Other team’s failures keep the Galaxy on top. (Sean – 1)

2. (-1) FC Dallas (7-4-4, 25 points) – Definitely didn’t see Sporting KC crushing the streaking one of the hottest teams in MLS. While it had to have been an aberration, I have to drop them to second this week. (Brian – 2) … Shocker by Dallas. How they recover this weekend will reveal a lot. (Sean – 2)

3. (+3) New York Red Bulls (5-2-7, 22 points) – Their 2-1 win over New England that can only be categorized as lucky. One of the most underachieving first place squads in recent memory. (Brian – 3) Their victory over New England was hardly convincing, but they are clearly suffering from several Gold Cup absences. (Sean – 3)

4. Real Salt Lake (6-3-3, 21 points) – Comeback draw against Philly wasn’t the best result, but it was a point nonetheless and a step in the right direction. (Brian – 6) … Point on the road against an unbeaten at home Union is a good result for Salt Lake as the look to return to their early season dominance. (Sean – 4)

5. Seattle Sounders (5-4-7, 24 points)- Should have taken three against Vancouver and their failure to get the win may indicate that the Sounders still have issues in the rear. (Brian – 4) … Sloppy tie against Vancouver after taking a late lead. Expect better from Seattle at home. (Sean – 7)

6. (+4) San Jose Earthquakes (5-4-4, 19 points) – Put a four-spot on D.C. to extend their unbeaten streak to six as the Quakes are putting together a nice late-spring run. (Brian – 7) … After a slow start, the Earthquakes are now the hottest team in MLS. Can they keep it up? (Sean – 5)

7. (-4) Philadelphia Union (6-3-4, 22 points) – Another one-goal game for the Union in their 1-1 draw to RSL shows that the offense is still idling. (Brian – 5) … Still not fully convinced the Union can be contenders, though a draw with RSL is an acceptable result. (Sean – 8 )

8. (-2) Colorado Rapids (5-3-7, 22 points) – Snap their winless streak at six, but just barely thanks to Drew Moor’s stoppage time goal. (Brian – 8 ) … Finally get a victory and on the road no less. Will it build the confidence to get more? (Sean – 6)

T9. (+1) Chivas USA (4-5-5, 17 points) – Fall to a staggering Dynamo side, ensuring that the Goats remain a mediocre team going into the summer. (Brian – 9) … Another loss and Chivas is as inconsistent as ever. (Sean – 10)

T9. (+4) Houston Dynamo (4-5-6, 18 points) – Claim their first win since April against Chivas, but zero goals from the run of play may suggest that the Dynamo are still a work in progress. (Brian – 10) … Unconvincing victory against Chivas, but in a poor Eastern Conference, the Dynamo may well make the playoffs despite their struggles. From #9 down, it’s hard to see any of these teams making noise in the postseason however. (Sean – 9)

11. (-3) D.C. United (4-5-4, 16 points)– Shaken, not stirred, by Steve Lenhart and the Quakes as the Ben Olsen’s boys continue to search for their identity. (Brian – 11) … Shocker at home by D.C. Never know which D.C. team is going to turn up this season. (Sean – 11)

12. Columbus Crew (4-4-6, 18 points) – Fall to a stumbling Chicago side in stoppage and yet, somehow, they’re one of the best teams in the East. (Brian – 12) … Losing at home to one of the worst teams in the league isn’t going to help a team move up the rankings. (Sean – 12)

13. (-5) Portland Timbers (5-6-2, 17 points) – Shut out by the Rapids at home; they need to find some consistency if they want to make a playoff push this summer. (Brian – 13) Still no wins on the road and now they aren’t so unbeatable on their home field. (Sean – 13)

T14. (+1) Toronto FC (2-5-9, 15 points) –Astonishing 2-2 draw to L.A. confirms that this was one of the weirdest weeks in MLS. Like legit. (Brian – 14) … Surprise draw at Los Angeles followed by a dire performance in a scoreless draw with New England. Not enough to show me this team’s improving. (Sean – 16)

T14. (+3) Sporting Kansas City (2-6-4, 10 points) – Home cooking was just what SKC needed to shock the streaking Big D side. (Brian – 16) … It may seem odd putting this team so high while they are still in last, but a stunning 4-1 road victory over what was the hottest team in MLS is enough to vault them over the other cellar-dwellers. (Sean – 14)

T16. (-1) Vancouver Whitecaps (1-6-8, 11 points) – Eric Hassli single-handedly give the Caps a point with his YouTube sensation wonderstrike. (Brian – 15) … Fantastic strike by Hassli and Vancouver pulls off an important point at Seattle, but are still searching for their second victory of the season. (Sean – 18)

T16. (+1) Chicago Fire (2-4-8, 14 points) – Finally get back in the win column for the first time since March. Amazingly enough, they’re only eight points from first place in the woeful East. (Brian – 18) …. Impressive road victory over Columbus and three consecutive shutouts and the Fire are starting to show some life. (Sean – 15)

18. (-4) New England Revolution (3-7-5, 14 points) – Zak Boggs scores the first goal from the run of play in 600 minutes, but it’s not enough to beat the Red Bulls. (Brian – 17) … They’ve actually looked a bit better recently, albeit against struggling teams, but the results still aren’t there. (Sean – 17)