{"id":10870,"date":"2012-04-04T15:15:32","date_gmt":"2012-04-04T19:15:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/?p=10870"},"modified":"2012-04-04T15:22:21","modified_gmt":"2012-04-04T19:22:21","slug":"mls-rankings-week-4-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/?p=10870","title":{"rendered":"MLS Rankings: Week 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week the New England Soccer Today crew will look beyond the standings to rank each of the 19 Major League Soccer (MLS) teams. This week Brian O\u2019Connell, Sean Donahue, Julian Cardillo and Ryan Lanigan contributed rankings. Comments are followed by the ranker\u2019s name and the rank they gave that team.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. SPORTING KANSAS CITY<\/strong> (4-0-0, 12 points)
\nC.J. Sapong scores his third goal of the season as the polesitters keep their record unblemished with a 1-0 win on the road against the Goats. Look primed to make it five in a row against a reeling L.A. eleven. (Brian \u2013 1) \u2026 Sure they had an easy opponent this week, but it was still a nice road win on a west coast trip. 4-0-0 with only one goal allowed? Hard to top that. (Sean \u2013 1) \u2026 They\u2019ve been rather formidable and their well-roundedness is showing. Though they\u2019re taking on a battered Galaxy team next, LA is still good and it should be their toughest test yet. (Julian \u2013 1) \u2026 They have started an impressive 4-0 and scoring hasn\u2019t seemed like an issue for them. (Ryan \u2013 1)<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> (+1) REAL SALT LAKE<\/strong> (3-1-0, 9 points)
\nAppeared all but dead until the 89th minute when Johnny Steele delivered the equalizer, which served as prelude for Kyle Beckerman\u2019s game-winner in stoppage time. A win\u2019s a win, and the claret and cobalt has claimed three out of four so far. (Brian \u2013 2) \u2026 Proved last week\u2019s shocking loss to Chivas was a fluke by grabbing a difficult road victory in Portland. (Sean \u2013 2) \u2026 Showed lots of character in their comeback win against Portland. Another well-rounded team that\u2019s scoring goals. (Julian \u2013 2) \u2026 After a disastrous loss to Chivas, RSL bounced back with arguably the most impressive win of the season, topping Portland on the road in the final minutes. (Ryan \u2013 2)<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> (+4) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES<\/strong> (3-1-0, 9 points)
\nThere weren\u2019t many chances afforded to the \u2018Quakes, but they capitalized on the big one \u2013 a 24th minute penalty. Don\u2019t look now, but San Jose already has three wins on the season. (Brian \u2013 3) It wasn\u2019t the prettiest victory, but Jon Busch is in fine form and getting a win in Seattle is a fantastic result. The Earthquakes might be the real deal this season. (Sean \u2013 3) \u2026 Have had somewhat of an easy schedule, though they\u2019re last win against Seattle was anything but a walk in the park. Just one goal allowed and three wins out of four is promising. (Julian \u2013 4) \u2026 Wondolowski has been superb so far but even more impressive is they have only conceded one goal against. (Ryan – 4)<\/p>\n

T4.<\/strong> (+4) COLORADO RAPIDS<\/strong> (3-1-0, 9 points)
\nOmar Cummings and second half sub Kamani Hill lead the way while Matt Pickens and the D snuff out Dominic Oduro for the 2-0 win at home. Think it\u2019s safe to say their 4-1 loss to NY is behind them. (Brian \u2013 4) \u2026 With Larentowicz back in the midfield, the Rapids picked up where they left off with a 2-0 win over Chicago. (Sean \u2013 4) \u2026 Made due without Pablo Mastroeni and grabbed a crucial three points out of Chicago\u2019s season opener. The Rapids aren\u2019t playing the best soccer but they\u2019re earning points. (Julian \u2013 5) \u2026 The return of Jeff Larentewicz was key in their win over Chicago. (Ryan \u2013 7)<\/p>\n

T4.<\/strong> (-2) SEATTLE SOUNDERS<\/strong> (2-1-0, 6 points)
\nFor the second week in a row, a highly questionable call thwarts a strong team at home. Last week it was Chivas\u2019 win at Rio Tinto. This week, it\u2019s San Jose\u2019s win at Seattle, where a curious penalty leads to Seattle\u2019s first loss of the season. Extremely unlucky to lose against an upstart San Jose. (Brian \u2013 6) \u2026 Injuries are hitting hard, but you\u2019d expect a better result at home against the Earthquakes. (Sean \u2013 5) \u2026 A loss against San Jose is disappointing and Fredy Montero has yet to turn on the goal scoring. Something tells me David Estrada\u2019s fuel won\u2019t last forever. (Julian \u2013 6) \u2026 Despite the loss to SJ, they still played decent. (Ryan \u2013 3)<\/p>\n

T4.<\/strong> (+1) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS<\/strong> (2-0-2, 8 points)
\nStay unbeaten through its first four, but you can bet Sebastien LeToux wished he had finished on that 82nd minute chance that sailed high over the bar. Should\u2019ve won, but the cold hard fact is that they\u2019ve stayed out of the loss column. (Brian \u2013 5) \u2026 Unbeaten through four games and still yet to give up a goal, but the Whitecaps still haven\u2019t played a quality team and could only draw against a struggling Philly. (Sean \u2013 7) \u2026 Still undefeated, still no goals allowed. The Whitecaps are a different team and have been in impressive form to start the season. (Julian \u2013 3) \u2026 Still unbeaten and still haven\u2019t given up a goal. (Ryan \u2013 5)<\/p>\n

7.<\/strong>\u00a0 (-1) HOUSTON DYNAMO<\/strong> (2-1-0, 6 points)
\nIdle for two weeks, their next opponent is the Fire at Toyota Park as the Dynamo eagerly await the grand opening of BBVA Compass Stadium in May. (Brian \u2013 8 ) \u2026 Idle two weeks in a row and you have to wonder if that will hurt the Dynamo. (Sean \u2013 6) \u2026 Tough to be a team with so much time off. Will it allow for rest or rust? Time will tell. (Julian \u2013 7) \u2026 A week off didn\u2019t hurt or help them this time around. (Ryan \u2013 6)<\/p>\n

8.<\/strong> (+4) NEW YORK RED BULLS<\/strong> (2-2-0, 6 points)
\nThe fans at Red Bull Arena chant Thierry Henry\u2019s name after the former Gunner grabs three goals in a massive attacking effort that saw the Red Bulls secure a 5-2 win over the Impact. Still think this club\u2019s the biggest enigma in MLS. (Brian \u2013 7) \u2026 The Red Bulls confidence must be sky high after trouncing their last two opponents. They\u2019ll face a legitimate challenge in the Crew on Saturday, can they keep it up? (Sean \u2013 8 ) \u2026 Whether or not Hans Backe is on the hot seat is irrelevant. Thierry Henry looks like the only one who\u2019s making things happen for the Red Bulls. That needs to change. (Julian \u2013 10) \u2026 Thierry Henry\u2026that is all. (Ryan \u2013 8 )<\/p>\n

9.<\/strong> (+5) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION<\/strong> (2-2-0, 6 points)
\nDon\u2019t look now, but the Revs have won two in a row against a pair of teams that made the playoffs last year. The latest: a 3-1 thumping of the defending champs, showing that Jay Heaps may be building a winner in Foxboro. (Brian \u2013 9) \u2026 It may come as a surprise, but the Revolution have won two in a row against supposedly superior opposition without Benny Feilhaber. Can they continue to thrive in Dallas despite additional injuries? (Sean \u2013 10) \u2026 So they beat the Galaxy and all of a sudden they\u2019re kings of the world? Not quite. Team chemistry is still being created and it\u2019s only one game. It does appear, however, that the Revs are on the rise. (Julian \u2013 9) \u2026 They have looked impressive in their last two games, on both sides of the ball. Still need more consistency though. (Ryan \u2013 10)<\/p>\n

10.<\/strong> (+6) D.C. UNITED<\/strong> (1-2-1, 4 points)
\nStarting to show signs of life as Maicon Santos puts two exclamation points on a huge win at home over a Dallas squad that\u2019s fallen on hard times. Meanwhile, Kevin Willis made key saves to keep the guests at bay. (Brian \u2013 11) \u2026 I\u2019ve been waiting for D.C.\u2019s offense to show up. It did in a BIG way on Friday. (Sean \u2013 12) \u2026 Got a big victory over Dallas which was huge, now can they keep up with the Sounders? (Julian \u2013 11) \u2026 They might have gotten the steal of the draft with Nick DeLeon. (Ryan \u2013 9)<\/p>\n

11.<\/strong> (-7) LOS ANGELES GALAXY<\/strong> (1-2-0, 3 points)
\nWhat is going on with the defending champs? For the second time in three league games, L.A.\u2019s defense gets shredded to the tune of 3 goals as the Revolution get a shock 3-1 win at the HDC. (Brian \u2013 15) \u2026 Sure there was no Landon Donovan, but the Galaxy\u2019s defense is in shambles in their shock defeat to New England. Things won\u2019t get any easier with a trip to Kansas City this weekend. (Sean \u2013 9) \u2026 Played terribly against the Revolution. They need to figure out their defense and start running the midfield like they did last season. Lucky for them, the season is still young. (Julian \u2013 8 ) \u2026 I wonder if they have one of those counters counting down until Omar gets back? (Ryan \u2013 12)<\/p>\n

12.<\/strong> (+1) COLUMBUS CREW<\/strong> (2-1-0, 6 points)
\nThe yellow and black get the win thanks to Bernardo Anort\u2019s goal while Andy Gruenenbaum makes three saves to keep Toronto off the board for the second straight week. It may be early, but watch out for the Crew. (Brian \u2013 10) \u2026 Back to back wins for the Crew, albeit against struggling foes. Saturday\u2019s home match against New York is a big one. (Sean \u2013 11) \u2026 Good job to beat Toronto, but that wasn\u2019t much of a test. Finding out who\u2019s going to score goals and provide service is a long-term question for the Crew. (Julian \u2013 12) \u2026 Solid win over Toronto on the road. (Ryan \u2013 14)<\/p>\n

13.<\/strong> (-3) PORTLAND TIMBERS<\/strong> (1-2-1, 4 points)
\nDarlington Nagbe punches in with a pair beautiful goals, but Salt Lake surges ahead in the dying minutes to hand the Timbers \u2013 who wore their gorgeous throwback-inspired alternates \u2013 a devastating 3-2 loss at home. (Brian \u2013 12) \u2026 Have the wheels fallen off in Portland? First the loss to the Revs, now blowing a late lead at home and the once mighty Timbers aren\u2019t looking so strong anymore. (Sean \u2013 13) \u2026 Ugh. They just had to finish off Salt Lake. Enough said. (Julian \u2013 14) \u2026 An inexcusable loss for them really, looking like the Revolution of last season. (Ryan \u2013 15)<\/p>\n

14.<\/strong> (-5) CHICAGO FIRE<\/strong> (1-1-1, 4 points)
\nPaolo Tornaghi adds to his highlight reel, but the Fire attack is quieted by the Colorado defense. Somehow, Frank Klopas is going to have to find more firepower (pun intended) to take some of the weight off of Dominic Oduro. (Brian \u2013 13) \u2026 The Fire suffered their first loss of the season and were outplayed in Colorado. Colorado\u2019s never an easy place to play, but we\u2019ve yet to see the Fire beat a quality opponent this season. (Sean \u2013 14) \u2026 Oduro\u2019s foot is cold and so is Nyarko\u2019s service. Losing the home opener is a tough pill to swallow. (Julian \u2013 18) \u2026 Tough loss to Colorado but are still searching for a game to define what kind of team they are. (Ryan \u2013 11)<\/p>\n

15.<\/strong> (-4) FC DALLAS<\/strong> (1-2-1, 4 points)
\nJust a wretched game in D.C. Give up four goals, and things go from bad to worse when Daniel Hernandez sees red late.\u00a0 File it and forget it, fellas. (Brian \u2013 16) \u2026 Sure they\u2019ve got excuses and the news on David Ferreira\u2019s injury is unfortunate, but after a two losses in a row, including getting crushed by D.C., Dallas needs to beat New England on Thursday. (Sean \u2013 15) \u2026 Have only managed one win, but they may be able to take advantage of the Revs on Thursday. Still early in the season and have plenty of time to get their heads on straight. (Julian \u2013 13) \u2026 Tough loss on the road to a DC United that just went off. (Ryan \u2013 13)<\/p>\n

16.<\/strong> (-2) CHIVAS USA<\/strong> (1-3-0, 3 points)
\nSo much for riding the momentum of their 1-0 win at Rio Tinto.\u00a0 Nick LaBrocca hit the post, but it was the closest the Goats came to leveling it as they drop 1-0 loss against the powerful Sporting K.C. side. (Brian \u2013 14) \u2026 Chivas still can\u2019t get a victory at home, though to be fair they were playing a great team in Kansas City. Desperate for Juan Pablo Angel\u2019s return to finish some of the chances they create. (Sean \u2013 16) \u2026 Have just been uninspirational this season. One win is great, but there seems to be no character. (Julian \u2013 17) \u2026 Is losing to Sporting KC by only one an impressive thing? Maybe for this team. (Ryan \u2013 16)<\/p>\n

17.<\/strong> (+1) TORONTO FC<\/strong> (0-3-0, 0 points)
\nMilos Kocic stops a penalty, but the Reds\u2019 pathetic attack stumbles toward another shutout at BMO Field. But the Reds keep insisting that tide will turn. Any day now\u2026 (Brian \u2013 19) \u2026 Toronto FC gets a pass for now for a taxing CONCACAF Champions League campaign, but they\u2019re starting to dig themselves a hole. (Sean \u2013 17) \u2026 You have to wonder how they\u2019re going to cope with injuries to Torsten Frings and Stefan Frei. Is an honorable performance in Champions League all Toronto will take away from this season? (Julian \u2013 15) \u2026 Still no points for the reds north of the boarder. (Ryan \u2013 18)<\/p>\n

18.<\/strong> (+1) PHILADELPHIA UNION<\/strong> (0-3-1, 1 point)
\nSurvive two late Vancouver advances, but for what? Despite a series of chances, Philly comes up short on the scoreboard and have to settle for a scoreless draw at home. (Brian \u2013 17) \u2026 The defense showed up this weekend, but the Union really miss Sebastien Le Toux. It\u2019s looking like an awful offseason for the Union. (Sean \u2013 18) \u2026 Drama, drama, and more drama. Peter Nowak\u2019s difficult personality is apparent and the Union are in bad form to start the season. Just two goals scored? Six goals allowed? Uh oh. (Julian \u2013 19) \u2026 Based on the three winless teams, they have the best goal differential. (Ryan \u2013 17)<\/p>\n

19.<\/strong> (-2) MONTREAL IMPACT<\/strong> (0-3-1, 1 point)
\nGet a lead and go into the half 2-2 against New York on the road, but it\u2019s all downhill in the second frame as the defense gets burned by Thierry Henry. (Brian \u2013 18) \u2026 Rough night in New York. The Impact look ever bit like the expansion team that they are. (Sean \u2013 19) \u2026 They\u2019ve shown signs of life in every game so far. Getting beat up by a Thierry Henry hat trick isn\u2019t fun, but two goals says they\u2019ve got potential. (Julian \u2013 16) \u2026 10 goals given up in just 4 games. (Ryan \u2013 19)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kansas City remains atop the rankings with Real Salt Lake close behind, but who’s next depends on who you ask.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10871,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nesoccertoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/sportingkclogo.jpg?fit=490%2C240&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10870"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10870"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10874,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10870\/revisions\/10874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nesoccertoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}