Sounders reclaim throne in Week 28 MLS power rankings

Are you a fan who likes ties in professional sports? If so, this past weekend of Major League Soccer action was for you!

Seven MLS regular season contests took place over Saturday and Sunday. Five of them ended in draws. Kansas City and Seattle were two sides who wanted nothing to do with level scorelines. KC enjoyed a romp over what is far and away the worst team in the league and possibly the worst franchise in North American professional sports. The Sounders, meanwhile, found a late winner at home to reclaim their spot atop MLS power rankings for at least a week.

2014 Week 28 MLS power rankings

19. Chivas USA (6-16-6): The latest rumors on the subject are that the club may cease to exist in 2015 while MLS attempts to figure out what to do with it. I hear David Beckham is still looking for his own MLS toy. Miami would be a fine spot for Chivas.

18. Montreal Impact (5-17-6): Montreal would be true playoff contenders if the team’s defense could match the quality of its counterattack. No team has given up more goals in 2014 than have the Impact (52).

17. San Jose Earthquakes (6-11-10): Jon Busch deserves consideration for MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He is the main reason that the Earthquakes are not dead last in the standings, and he deserves better from what has routinely been a shaky back line.

16. Toronto FC (9-11-7): Toronto are seemingly trying to outdo Chivas as the biggest train wreck in all of MLS. TFC are on the verge of losing all three of their designated players after just one disastrous season. There is no one fix that is going to turn this team around this coming winter.

Aug 16, 2014; Sandy, UT, USA; Seattle Sounders FC defender DeAndre Yedlin (17) passes the ball during the first half against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

15. Chicago Fire (5-7-15): Stop letting other organizations use your field, Chicago, if you are unable to make repairs in time for league matches. That pitch was downright disgraceful on Saturday, and that a regular season game was allowed to play on it is a shame for both of the teams that took the field.

14. Colorado Rapids (8-13-7): It was unfortunate that Colorado were unable to hold onto a lead at home, but the Rapids did well to stop the bleeding. They are 0-7-1 in their past eight games, and Colorado are six points off of a playoff spot.

13. Vancouver Whitecaps (8-7-13): Goalkeeper David Ousted had a rough evening on Saturday. One could easily argue that he should have stopped both of the attempts that hit the back of his net in the losing effort.

12. Houston Dynamo (9-13-5): Houston failed to hold a two-goal lead at home. The days of the Dynamo casually backing into the playoffs could be a thing of the past, as it is clear that Houston is lacking the quality of a top-five conference side.

11. Portland Timbers (8-8-12): The Timbers would not be a playoff team if the postseason began today. That Caleb Porter honeymoon could be nearing its end if Portland are unable to leapfrog Vancouver in the MLS West standings before the campaign ends.

10. Philadelphia Union (9-9-10): Head coach Jim Curtin played a b-squad versus the Red Bulls with the upcoming US Open Cup Final in mind. Beating Seattle will be no easy task for the Union even though Philadelphia will have the home-field advantage on Tuesday evening.

9. Columbus Crew (9-9-10): It’s another week of Columbus being the most overlooked side in the MLS East and maybe in the entire league. Imagine how much better the Crew would be if they had signed a quality striker during the summer. Oh, what could have been.

8. New York Red Bulls (9-8-11): RBNY grabbed seven points from nine in one week. That’s a decent haul for any club, but dropping two points at Philadelphia because of a late controversial penalty does sting (insert your own “That’s so Metro” joke comment).

7. Real Salt Lake (12-6-10): RSL were but a clearance away from taking a point at Seattle. Salt Lake will have a chance to take their frustrations out on a slumping Colorado side on Friday.

6. Sporting Kansas City (13-10-6): A trip out west to face Chivas is the cure for the 18 other teams in the league, KC included. Following that 4-0 victory last Friday evening, Kansas City will now concentrate on taking care of business in CONCACAF Champions League.

5. New England Revolution (13-12-3): Get used to seeing Lee Nguyen being mentioned as a MLS Most Valuable Player candidate. The in-f0rm man struck for another goal over the weekend, and Nguyen is building a strong case for his deserving a United States Men’s National Team call-up.

4. FC Dallas (13-9-6): Blas Perez earned Player of the Week honors with his performance against Vancouver. His first tally was a Goal of the Year candidate, and his second was the match winner.

3. DC United (14-9-5): United dropping points when away to their hated rivals (RBNY) is not a reason to downgrade the team in power rankings. DC remain the best team in the MLS East, and they are still earning more points per game (1.68) than is any other side in the conference.

2. LA Galaxy (14-5-9): A pair of draws ends LA’s hot run that had them atop MLS power rankings. Five total missed penalty kicks to date could be what costs the Galaxy the Supporters’ Shield this season.

1. Seattle Sounders (17-7-3): Andy Rose is quickly becoming a Seattle hero. Since returning from a torn meniscus on August 13, Rose has scored five goals across all competitions. The Sounders, with their late win over RSL, became the first team to qualify for the postseason.