Toronto FC secured its position at the top of the MLS power rankings with another emphatic home win over Portland this past weekend. TFC remains alone in the No. 1 spot with another major shakeup this week that includes the arrival of a new team in the fifth and final position on this list. Here is a look at the MLS top five power rankings for this week.
1. Toronto FC
Last Week: 1
MLS Championship Betting Odds: +600
Toronto FC added to its league-leading point total with a dominant 4-1 victory over Portland in front of its home fans on Saturday. Justin Morrow notched a brace while Victor Vasquez and Marky Delgado each chipped in for TFC in an absolutely lopsided contest. Toronto is now 3-0-3 over its last nine games and hasn’t lost a match since July 1st. TFC has unfinished business from a year ago and right now it is the clear favorite to win an MLS championship this season.
2. New York City FC
Last Week: 5
MLS Championship Betting Odds: +800
New York City FC climbs from No. 5 on this list to No. 2 following a 2-0 win at the LA Galaxy on Saturday. The victory keeps the club within striking range of Toronto for top spot in MLS. David Villa and Jonathan Lewis both chipped in goals for NYCFC but it was Sean Johnson that stole the show with five saves in goal. New York City is definitely deserving of its move up this list but will need to continue to win games in order to ultimately challenge TFC for top spot in the Eastern Conference and home field advantage in the postseason.
3. Chicago Fire
Last Week: 2
MLS Championship Betting Odds: +800
The Fire fall to third in the Eastern Conference and to third in the power rankings following a disappointing loss at Columbus on Saturday. Chicago has dropped three of its last four following a stretch in which the club went nearly three months without a single loss. The Fire will need to clean things up defensively and regroup in a hurry in order to avoid falling any further in the standings. Chicago will visit a playoff-hungry Montreal side on Wednesday before hosting Toronto FC on Saturday so the schedule definitely isn’t about to get any easier.
The Fire are currently in third place in the MLS standings but keep in mind that they have a game in hand over the top two teams.
4. FC Dallas
Last Week: 3
MLS Championship Betting Odds: +900
FC Dallas also falls one spot this week from No. 3 to No. 4 in the power rankings following a scoreless draw versus Colorado. They have dropped two of their last three overall and haven’t won since a 2-1 victory over Montreal on July 22nd that came at the tail end of a three-game win streak. There were some positives to take from the draw with the Rapids but ultimately FCD will need to start winnings games in order to contend for top spot in a Western Conference race that is extremely tight right now.
Dallas is currently in fourth place in the Western Conference standings but it’s worth noting that they have games in hand. While the leaders are at 37 points, they’ve each played 24 games. FC Dallas has played 22 games.
5. Seattle Sounders
Last Week: –
MLS Championship Betting Odds: +1100
Only five points separates first from sixth in the Western Conference right now. The Sounders make their debut at the No. 5 spot on this list following another victory over Sporting KC on Saturday that left them in a three-way tie for top spot. Seattle is undefeated since a June 17th loss to NYCFC, compiling a 5-0-3 record over its last eight games. It wasn’t that long ago that Seattle was considered a fringe playoff team. Now the Sounders are a true championship contender with a legitimate shot at challenging for the best record in the Western Conference this season.
Technically, the Sounders are in second place in the Western Conference standings. This team has collected 37 points in 24 games. They have been strong at the offensive end in terms of MLS fantasy. They have scored 37 goals in their 24 contests.
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