Week 2 of the 2019 MLS season finished with a bang when LAFC dominated the Portland Timbers 4-1 on Sunday night. However, that match wasn’t the only highlight of the weekend. Expansion FC Cincinnati more than held their own on the road against defending champion Atlanta United in a 1-1 tie. Meanwhile, in New England, the Columbus Crew earned an impressive 2-0 win over the Revolution.
Here is a look at our MLS Power Rankings after Week 2:
(Note: Early season rankings will fluctuate as teams settle. These rankings are in no way indicative of a final product. Legend: (W-L-T, LW: last week’s rankings )
Top Ten
1. LAFC (2-0-0, LW: 2) – Carlos Vela’s dominating performance highlighted LAFC’s complete dismantling of the Timbers. Expectations were high for the second-year club. LAFC is clearly ready to handle those expectations.
2. Seattle Sounders FC (2-0-0, LW: 3) – Talk about dominant. The Sounders have outscored opponents 6-1 in their first two matches. We’ll get a look at how good this team is next weekend when the Sounders travel to Chicago for their first road game.
3. Columbus Crew SC (1-0-1, LW: 5) – The Crew’s 2-0 shutout of the New England Revolution boosts them into third. Columbus has a real chance to solidify its spot in the Eastern Conference with Atlanta struggling to find its place.
4. Minnesota United FC (2-0-0, LW: 12) – We knew Minnesota would be better this season, but no one predicted two solid road wins to open the season. We’ll get a better understanding of how good United is this weekend when they hit the road again against the L.A. Galaxy.
5. D. C. United (1-0-1, LW: 1) – D. C. United produced a solid tie at NYC FC on Saturday, but they owe goalkeeper Bill Hamid a beer for saving the game with his amazing save in the 89th minute.
6. N.Y. Red Bulls (0-0-1, LW: 4) – The Red Bulls got the week off, so this drop is more the result of other teams performing well in Week 2.
7. Sporting Kansas City (1-1-0, LW: 8) – Sporting Kansas City extended Philadelphia’s suffering to a second week with a solid 2-0 beating in their home opener. It wasn’t a pretty victory for SKC though. The win took a penalty kick and an own goal on the 10-man Union to put it away.
8. Toronto FC (1-0-0, LW: 9) – Toronto had the weekend off after competing in the CONCACAF Champions League during the week.
9. Houston Dynamo (1-0-1, LW: 16) – Mauro Manotas provides Houston with such a threat at any point in the match. His 86th minute goal sent the Montreal Impact to their first loss of the season.
10. F.C. Dallas (1-0-1, LW: 18) – F.C. Dallas started the week trash-talking the L.A. Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Twitter. They ended it by smashing the Zlatan-less Galaxy 2-0 at home.
Next Nine
11. Real Salt Lake (1-0-1, LW: 20) – I don’t know what to make of RSL after two matches. They are tough, but are they more than that. We’ll find out on the road next weekend against D.C. United.
12. Montreal Impact (1-1-0, LW: 10) – Montreal gave the Dynamo all they could handle on the road. This is a dangerous club, despite the loss.
13. Atlanta United (0-1-1, LW: 7) – Atlanta United led for much of the game against expansion FC Cincinnati. However, United’s defensive issues cost them again as Roland Lamah slipped past Atlanta’s back line and slotted in the tying goal late. We’ve seen defending champions struggle in the past. Will Atlanta get it together?
14. L.A. Galaxy (1-1-0, LW: 6) – Can the Galaxy score without Ibrahimovic in the lineup?
15. NYC FC (0-0-2, LW: 11) – NYC FC did well to hold D.C. United to a tie at home, but the question remains from last week. Did the club peak in the last two years? Can NYC FC compete with the league’s best?
16. Orlando City (0-0-2, LW: 21) – City head coach James O’Connor has Orlando playing hard early in the season. The question is whether or not City’s effort will result in victories.
17. Chicago Fire (0-1-1, LW: 17) – The Fire get a major test when they host the Sounders next weekend.
18. Colorado Rapids (0-1-1, LW: 15) – It’s difficult to judge the Rapids after suffering a 2-0 defeat in Seattle. However, the back line is a concern after giving up five goals in two matches.
19. F.C. Cincinnati (0-1-1, LW: 24) – Several questions still linger about F.C. Cincinnati, but it took a lot of nerve to earn a draw against the defending champions in Atlanta. FCC escapes the basement for one week after a great effort.
Final Five
20. New England Revolution (0-1-1, LW: 14) – Suffering a devastating 2-0 loss to the Crew in their home opener should be a wake-up call for the Revolution. Right?
21. Portland Timbers (0-1-1, LW: 13) – It may be time to panic in Portland after the Timbers gave up seven goals in their first two matches.
22. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (0-2-0, LW: 19) – Vancouver has been competitive in their first two matches, so there is some hope.
23. Philadelphia Union (0-2-0, LW: 23) – There’s no shame in losing on the road in Kansas City, but there has to be some concern over the roster’s balance. There are problems across the board.
24. San Jose Earthquakes (0-2-0, LW: 22) – Two matches, two home losses to clubs that failed to make the playoffs in 2018. It’s going to be a long year in San Jose.
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