Week 2 of the 2020 MLS season exposed a former league powerhouse as an early fraud, while two Western Conference clubs, Minnesota United FC and Sporting Kansas City, set the standard. Their impressive victories highlighted the strength of the west thus far. However, the five-time MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Galaxy suffered an embarrassing 1-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps to open their home slate. The Galaxy’s early-season struggles give little hope for a successful season with an underachieving roster.
Here are the Week 2 Power Rankings:
Note: Given the league’s parity, I hold a general lack of trust in the league’s power structure. Therefore, expect the early season power rankings to fall more in line with overall performance instead of trends.
(Legend: (W-L-T, LW: last week’s rankings)
TOP TEN
1. Minnesota United FC (2-0-0, LW: 4)
Sooner or later, Minnesota United was going to put it together. It appears that 2020 might be the year it makes it happen. Its second straight road victory should be news across the league. Winning in Portland and San Jose is never easy.
2. Sporting Kansas City (2-0-0, LW: 7)
I spent much of the 2019 season waiting for SKC to wake up. It has more than woken up to start the campaign. Its 4-0 destruction of Houston won’t raise their profile for many fans, but if this the return of the old SKC, look out.
3. Atlanta United FC (2-0-0, LW: 3)
Atlanta beat struggling FC Cincinnati for their second straight victory. However, that’s a game it should win. The real tests are coming. Can it compete for the Eastern Conference title without Josef Martinez.
4. Colorado Rapids (2-0-0, LW: 9)
Colorado’s rise shouldn’t be a surprise. The Rapids played well for much of the back-end of 2019. Still, we might not know how good the Rapids are until their April 18 matchup with SKC.
5. Los Angeles FC (1-0-1, LW: 2)
Something about the LAFC’s first two matches doesn’t sit well with me. It isn’t the same dominant team that took MLS by storm last year. However, the talent is there to shift into overdrive against any opponent. LAFC will pull it together as the schedule lightens up.
6. Columbus Crew SC (1-0-1, LW: 5)
The Crew hung tough with the defending champs in Seattle. Columbus remains a mystery, but its grit is undeniable.
7. Seattle Sounders FC (1-0-1, LW: 1)
The Sounders took 17 shots against the Crew, but they managed only one goal. I would like to say the Sounders are suffering a title hangover, but they struggled all last season as well. Seattle will be in this all year.
8. Montreal Impact FC (1-0-1, LW: 6)
Thierry Henry pushed the right buttons for the second straight match. He might have something going for the perennially overachieving Impact.
9. FC Dallas (1-0-1, LW: 8)
I’m not going to lie. FC Dallas’ crop of young talent continues to impress. Why hasn’t this club won an MLS Cup yet? Few teams develop talent in MLS like FC Dallas.
10. Toronto FC (1-0-1, LW: 11)
Toronto FC probably should be higher on this list. I just couldn’t pull the trigger on a team I’m still trying to figure out.
NEXT NINE
11. New York Red Bulls (1-0-1, LW: 10)
12. Vancouver Whitecaps (1-1-0, LW: 25)
13. DC United (1-1-0, LW: 21)
14. Portland Timbers (1-1-0, LW: 24)
15. Real Salt Lake (0-0-2, LW: 14)
16. Chicago Fire FC (0-1-1, LW: 18)
17. New England Revolution (0-1-1, LW: 23)
18. Philadelphia Union (0-1-1, LW: 20)
19. Orlando City (0-1-1, LW: 16)
LAST SEVEN
20. L.A. Galaxy (0-1-1, LW: 14)
21. Houston Dynamo (0-1-1, LW: 12)
22. San Jose Earthquakes (0-1-1, LW: 15)
23. New York City FC (0-2-0, LW: 17)
24. Nashville SC (0-2-0, LW: 22)
25. FC Cincinnati (0-2-0, LW: 26)
26. Inter Miami (0-2-0, LW: 19)
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