Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com
The Los Angeles Galaxy strengthened its hold atop the SBI MLS Power Rankings with a victory over Superclasico rival Chivas USA, but it's another team from California that is starting to make some noise on its way up the table.
The San Jose Earthquakes climbed another three spots this week, making that a six-spot improvement over the last two weeks, from No. 17 to 11. The Quakes' victory over the New England Revolution extended their unbeaten streak to three games after an extended period of looking lost and out of sync.
There was not a whole lot of other change in the rankings, as Real Salt Lake and New York remained at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, while the bottom four teams also stayed put.
Here are this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings (as voted on by SBI staff):
1. (Last week - 1) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (6-2-5, 23 points)
Last week: Beat Chivas USA, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Houston, 10:30 p.m., Wednesday; at New England, 8 p.m., Saturday, Galavision.
Outlook: The Galaxy maintained its dominance in the Superclasico rivlary, but the club will be without David Beckham for the midweek game against the Dynamo. The likes of Juninho and Michael Stephens will be called upon with Landon Donovan out for the Gold Cup, so they might as well get used to playing a bigger role on Wednedsay when they try to fill Beckham's creative void.
2. (2) REAL SALT LAKE (5-1-2, 17 points)
Last week: Tied FC Dallas, 0-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Seattle, 9 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: RSL finally got a point in Dallas and returns home to Rio Tinto to face a Seattle team that will be playing its third game in seven days. The club has still yet to score in the two games since Javier Morales' injury, though. Alvaro Saborio and Arturo Alvarez have already departed for Gold Cup duty, leaving Fabian Espindola with a big responsibility up top.
3. (3) NEW YORK RED BULLS (4-2-4, 16 points)
Last week: Tied Houston, 2-2, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Colorado, 8 p.m., Wednesday; at Vancouver, 5:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: Set-piece defending let the Red Bulls down in the final minutes against Houston, but Mehdi Ballouchy played the hero's role and grabbed the equalizer. He'll likely get a significant boost in minutes during the Gold Cup considering the team's absences, and he'll also look to play a role in the club's first match this week against his former team, Colorado.
4. (5) PORTLAND TIMBERS (5-3-2, 17 points)
Last week: Beat Columbus, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. D.C. United, 5 p.m., Sunday.
Outlook: Another set-piece goal for a centerback, another home win for the streaking Timbers. Portland turns its attention to another home match, this one with D.C. in a battle of teams that made one of the bigger trades of the offseason on Expansion Draft day. While Dax McCarty has been a constant starter in D.C.'s central midfield, Portland has seen a solid return on its acquisitions of Troy Perkins and Rodney Wallace.
5. (4) FC DALLAS (5-3-3, 18 points)
Last week: Tied Real Salt Lake, 0-0, on Sunday.
This week: at Seattle, 10 p.m., Wednesday; Houston, 8:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: Kevin Hartman's shutout streak is still alive, but FCD's nine-game home winning streak against Real Salt Lake is not after their weather-altered draw over the weekend. Two tough road matches are next on the docket, including a Texas derby during which FCD will try to prove that Houston is not, in fact, two times better than Dallas, as this billboard might have you believe.
6. (8) PHILADELPHIA UNION (5-3-2, 17 points)
Last week: Beat Chicago, 2-1, on Saturday.
This week: at Toronto FC, 12:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: The Union finally scored more than once in a game, thanks to Carlos Ruiz' super volley that defeated the Fire. Rookie Michael Farfan also got on the board with his first career goal and continues to play valuable minutes for Peter Nowak. Amobi Okugo exited with a high ankle sprain, but X-rays are negative, and the U.S. U-20 midfielder shouldn't have to miss too much time.
7. (6) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (4-3-5, 17 points)
Last week: Beat Sporting Kansas City, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. FC Dallas, 10 p.m., Wednesday; at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: Jeff Parke left it late with his first goal in seven years, but the Sounders probably expected a better performance at home against a defense as maligned as Kansas City's. If Seattle wishes to walk away with big points this week, it'll take better efforts against the two teams directly ahead of the Sounders in the conference standings.
8. (7) COLORADO RAPIDS (4-3-4, 16 points)
Last week: Tied Toronto FC, 0-0, on Sunday.
This week: at New York, 8 p.m., Wednesday; vs. Sporting Kansas City, 9 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: The Rapids will see both sides of the Eastern Conference spectrum this week, with a game at New York and then one at home against road-warrior and league cellar dweller SKC. Conor Casey's return from the injured list should provide a boost to an attack that has been lacking of late. He played an hour against TFC to get his feet wet again but should be ready to assume the leading role up top again.
9. (T-9) HOUSTON DYNAMO (3-3-5, 14 points)
Last week: Tied New York, 2-2, on Saturday.
This week: at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., Wednesday; vs. FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: The Dynamo probably should have beaten the Red Bulls if not for some poor set-piece defending late in their match. The club will be thrilled that Brad Davis wasn't selected for the Gold Cup, considering his form in MLS thus far, and it'll look to the captain to deliver from the left even more in two tough games this week.
10. (T-9) CHIVAS USA (3-4-3, 12 points)
Last week: Lost to Los Angeles, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: at Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: The Goats followed up their win over New York with a loss to rival L.A., but they had their chances to pull even and couldn't deliver. Justin Braun had a tough time getting going on the heels of his hat trick against New York, and he faces another tough challenge in going head-to-head with Chad Marshall.
T-11. (14) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (3-4-3, 12 points)
Last week: Beat New England, 2-1, on Saturday.
This week: at Chicago, 8:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: The Earthquakes continue to rise up the charts after another victory. Gold Cup-bound forward Chris Wondolowski set up the first goal against the Revolution, but more importantly, Bobby Convey got involved and scored the game-winner. The Quakes are at their best when Convey is influential, and he'll look to continue his run of form at Toyota Park.
T-11. (11) COLUMBUS CREW (3-3-4, 13 points)
Last week: Lost to Portland, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Chivas USA, 7:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: Columbus left Portland with a sour taste in its mouth after former Crew defender Eric Brunner scored the game-winner. The club definitely left some points on the table at Jeld-Wen Field and returns home to face another former Crew defender -- Chivas coach Robin Fraser.
T-13. (12) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (3-4-4, 13 points)
Last week: Lost to San Jose, 2-1, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Los Angeles, 8 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: The Revs have a big test ahead as they welcome the league-leading Galaxy to Gillette Stadium. With Benny Feilhaber and Shalrie Joseph leaving the club for the Gold Cup, New England will want to maximize the games for which they're still around.
T-13. (13) D.C. UNITED (3-4-3, 12 points)
Last week: Idle.
This week: At Portland, 5 p.m., Sunday.
Outlook: D.C. spent its bye week tussling with Ajax, and a number of players did well against the European power, including rookie Perry Kitchen. He started at central midfield in the friendly and could be an option there going forward. Charlie Davies and Josh Wolff are both doubtful for this weekend's game, coach Ben Olsen said on Sunday.
15. (15) TORONTO FC (2-4-6, 12 points)
Last week: Tied Colorado, 0-0, on Sunday.
This week: vs. Philadelphia, 12:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: TFC eked out a point against the Rapids and would surprisingly be right in the middle of the hunt in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Union. Philadelphia is just 1-3-0 on the road this season, and if TFC can beat Vancouver in their midweek Canadian championship final, the club could enter the weekend with plenty of momentum.
16. (16) CHICAGO FIRE (1-4-5, 8 points)
Last week: Lost to Philadelphia, 2-1, on Saturday.
This week: vs. San Jose, 8:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: The Fire hasn't won in eight games, and its four-match draw streak is a thing of the past. After Jon Conway's performance against Philadelphia, will Carlos de los Cobos turn back to Sean Johnson in goal?
17. (17) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (1-5-5, 8 points)
Last week: Idle.
This week: vs. New York, 5:30 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: The Whitecaps are rested, but they'll face Toronto FC in a high-pressure midweek Canadian championship final before welcoming the Red Bulls to Empire Field. Their performance on Saturday could easily be dictated by the outcome of Wednesday's second leg at BMO Field, where a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League is on the line.
18. (18) SPORTING KANSAS CITY (1-6-1, 4 points)
Last week: Lost to Seattle, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: at Colorado, 9 p.m., Saturday.
Outlook: Ouch. After putting forth a gritty effort at Qwest Field and being just moments away from the club's first clean sheet of the season, SKC succumbed to Parke's header and extended its winless streak to seven games. Two more road games remain before the club finally has a home game.
