MLS Power Rankings: Miami rises following comeback victory

It’s Monday, and MLS action has returned, marking the time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Which teams appear the strongest? Which ones may face a challenging season? Our writers analyzed the events from Matchday 2 to establish this week’s rankings. Let’s take a closer look.

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1. LAFC

Previous ranking: 1

Following a decisive victory over Miami in the opening weekend, LAFC secured another three points with a 2-0 away win against the Houston Dynamo. Thanks to long-range strikes from Mark Delgado and Stephen Eustáquio, this LAFC squad demonstrated their versatility in attack.

2. Vancouver Whitecaps

Previous ranking: 4

If there was any uncertainty regarding which Canadian team is the top in MLS (there wasn’t), the ‘Caps eliminated it on Saturday with a commanding 3-0 victory over Toronto. With Thomas Müller’s brace leading the way, Vancouver looked every bit as formidable as the squad that reached the MLS Cup last season.

3. San Diego FC

Previous ranking: 3

San Diego achieved a comfortable 2-0 home victory over St. Louis to conclude the weekend’s matches. During the game, Anders Dreyer, who netted the first goal, became the second-fastest player in MLS history to reach 20 goals and 20 assists, trailing only Lionel Messi.

4. Inter Miami CF

Previous ranking: 7

Now that was more like the defending champions. After a rocky start against LAFC last weekend, Miami bounced back with a convincing 4-2 away win over Orlando City. Javier Mascherano is still seeking clarity regarding his team’s positioning, but Miami’s talent ultimately prevailed on Sunday.

5. Nashville SC

Previous ranking: 2

Missing Sam Surridge due to illness and managing Concacaf Champions Cup commitments, Nashville delivered a subdued performance in a 0-0 draw with Dallas on Saturday. The potential is evident, but B.J. Callaghan’s squad is still in the process of developing chemistry.

6. Red Bull New York

Previous ranking: 8

Although the Revs put up a much stiffer challenge than Orlando did in the opening weekend, the revamped Red Bull New York still managed a 1-0 win against New England. The only goal of the match came from a combination of three teenagers: Matthew Dos Santos set up Adri Mehmeti, who assisted Julian Hall for the score.

7. Seattle Sounders

Previous ranking: 6

In one of the more disappointing outcomes of the weekend, a nearly full-strength Sounders team, missing only Jordan Morris, lost to a depleted Real Salt Lake squad by a score of 2-1. Cristian Roldan, who netted Seattle’s sole goal, was a highlight in an otherwise lackluster performance.

8. Minnesota United

Previous ranking: 14

With a goal from Kelvin Yeboah, Minnesota secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cincinnati. Although there is still work to be done for the players to adjust to new manager Cameron Knowles’ more deliberate style, clear progress was evident on Saturday.

9. San Jose Earthquakes

Previous ranking: 13

Timo Werner made his debut for the Quakes and quickly made an impact. The German forward provided the final assist in San Jose’s 2-0 win over Atlanta United, concluding a busy week that included his first training sessions with the Earthquakes.

10. FC Cincinnati

Previous ranking: 5

In Evander’s absence due to injury, FC Cincinnati’s offense appeared lackluster on the road in Minnesota. They suffered a 1-0 defeat without generating consistent threats in the attacking third. The sooner their Brazilian star returns, the better.

11. New York City FC

Previous ranking: 12

Thanks to a last-minute goal from Tayvon Gray in the 99th minute, NYCFC secured a 2-1 away victory over the Philadelphia Union. Overall, Pascal Jansen’s offense appeared more balanced than it did during the opening weekend against the LA Galaxy.

12. Real Salt Lake

Previous ranking: 23

Although they are still not at full strength, Salt Lake impressed with a 2-1 victory over Seattle. The young players stood out, with contributions from 18-year-olds Aiden Hezarkhani and Zavier Gozo. Additionally, new designated player Morgan Guilavogui shone in his debut off the bench. Positive developments are emerging in Utah.

play0:35Ariath Piol scores goal for Real Salt Lake

Ariath Piol scores in the 47′

13. LA Galaxy

Previous ranking: 18

While the Galaxy’s offense was lackluster to start the season against NYCFC, it was anything but in a 3-0 victory over Charlotte FC on Saturday. Gabriel Pec exploited the visitors’ left flank, and the Galaxy never looked back after scoring three goals within the first 13 minutes.

14. Chicago Fire

Previous ranking: 21

After taking the lead in the first half through a swift transition attack finished by Jonathan Bamba, the Fire added two more goals even after being reduced to 10 men. Jonathan Dean’s red card did not hinder Chicago in a 3-0 win over Montréal.

15. FC Dallas

Previous ranking: 17

The downside? Dallas dropped points at home to Nashville in a 0-0 draw. The upside? New attacking midfielder Joaquín Valiente made his MLS debut, playing the last 30 minutes of the match. The optimal version of Dallas will feature the 24-year-old in the starting lineup.

16. Columbus Crew

Previous ranking: 19

Striker Wessam Abou Ali had an opportunity to score the game-winner from the penalty spot against Sporting Kansas City, but his attempt was saved in a match that ended 2-2. The Crew missed out on valuable points, which could prove costly in a competitive Eastern Conference.

17. Houston Dynamo

Previous ranking: 10

The Dynamo allowed two goals and received two red cards in a forgettable match against LAFC. The 2-0 home defeat serves as a reminder of Houston’s position in the Western Conference hierarchy, even after a busy offseason.

18. Philadelphia Union

Previous ranking: 11

That makes two consecutive losses in MLS play to start the Union’s Supporters’ Shield defense. While it appeared that Indiana Vassilev’s 89th-minute penalty against NYCFC would secure a draw on Sunday, a 99th-minute concession turned it into a 2-1 defeat.

19. St. Louis City SC

Previous ranking: 15

While they did not concede many clear chances, St. Louis simply lacked the offensive strength to compete with San Diego. Yoann Damet’s team lost 2-0 on Sunday and will continue to seek their first win in the club’s new era.

20. Portland Timbers

Previous ranking: 9

The Timbers were outshot and outperformed in a 2-0 away loss to the Rapids on Saturday. Much seems to depend on designated player David Da Costa returning to enhance Phil Neville’s attacking strategy.

21. Austin FC

Previous ranking: 22

New striker acquisition Christian Ramírez made a significant impact for Austin in a 1-0 home win over D.C. United. After being waived by the Galaxy, Austin signed him as a depth option late last week, and that depth proved beneficial on Sunday.

22. Charlotte FC

Previous ranking: 16

After just 13 minutes, Charlotte had already conceded three goals to the LA Galaxy. Fortunately, that was where the scoring stopped. However, Charlotte appeared disorganized in possession and sluggish defensively. The fact that Dean Smith benched both of his starting central midfielders at halftime illustrates the issues in Charlotte’s 3-0 defeat.

23. D.C. United

Previous ranking: 20

D.C. managed only three shots from inside the box in a disappointing 1-0 loss to Austin FC on Sunday. They would benefit from Louis Munteanu joining the starting lineup, but the 23-year-old designated player came off the bench for the second consecutive week.

24. Colorado Rapids

Previous ranking: 27

After struggling against one Cascadia team in the opening weekend, Colorado showed significant improvement in a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers on Saturday. With effective set-piece execution and control in both offense and defense, it was a well-deserved win for the Rapids.

play1:13Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers – Game Highlights

Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers – Game Highlights

25. Orlando City

Previous ranking: 24

Despite some encouraging attacking play from Marco Pašalić and Martín Ojeda that allowed Orlando to take a 2-0 lead over Miami, Oscar Pareja’s undermanned defense proved too vulnerable. They conceded four unanswered goals in a 4-2 loss.

26. Toronto FC

Previous ranking: 26

Toronto FC supporters will want to quickly forget the team’s 3-0 defeat to Vancouver in favor of a more positive development: Josh Sargent is officially a member of Toronto. The striker is expected to quickly become a key player in Robin Fraser’s offense.

27. Atlanta United

Previous ranking: 25

Aside from new defensive midfielder Tomás Jacob, the outlook appears grim for Atlanta. The offense was once again ineffective while the defense appeared vulnerable in a 2-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes. Tata Martino faces significant challenges ahead.

28. Sporting Kansas City

Previous ranking: 29

Kansas City required a late penalty save from goalkeeper John Pulskamp to secure a 2-2 home draw with Columbus, but they are unlikely to complain about earning a point. With a roster still largely under construction, managing to stay level with the Crew was quite an achievement.

29. New England Revolution

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