Power Rankings: Champs Crew pick up where they left off
It’s Monday, the first week of MLS action is in the books, which means it’s
time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.
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Our Power Rankings are derived from a combination of key season statistics
(points per game, goal differential, expected goal (xG) differential),
recent performance and the Opta computer ratings, as well as the
observations of our writers.
Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? We’ve ranked all 29 clubs in
the league after Opening Weekend. Let’s dive in.
1. Columbus Crew
Previous ranking: N/A
The weather in Columbus was gross, but the Crew had themselves a hell of a
day. They got their MLS Cup rings and beat Atlanta with a very impressive
defensive performance against a good attacking team. If the Crew’s defense
is going to be even remotely as good as their attack this season, good luck
to anyone else in the league.
2. LAFC
Previous ranking: N/A
No team had as much turnover from last season as the Black and Gold, so
you’d think they’d be one of the league’s slow starters. That wasn’t the
case as they took down Seattle to kick off the campaign. There’s going to
be a lot of work for Steve Cherundolo & Co. to do, as expected, but we saw
the top-end talent that can carry them through in the meantime.
3. Philadelphia Union
Previous ranking: N/A
The Union became the first team in 2024 to challenge VAR to a duel after it
disallowed two goals. Add a late shot off the bar and Philly definitely
left their contest with Chicago feeling more like they lost two points than
won one.
4. FC Cincinnati
Previous ranking: N/A
Cincy felt the absence of Álvaro Barreal in its scoreless draw with Toronto. It will be worth watching how the
Orange and Blue sort out the wing-back spots going forward considering how
much excellent flank play contributed to them winning the Supporters’
Shield in 2023.
5. Inter Miami CF
Previous ranking: N/A
Four points from a two-match week that included a cross-country flight?
Inter have nothing to complain about after beating RSL and sneaking a draw
in L.A.
6. Orlando City
Previous ranking: N/A
It was a weird match for the Lions, who had Pedro Gallese to thank for his heroics in goal that earned a draw, but who also should
have walked away with a win. Coming off the Concacaf Champions Cup midweek,
it was a solid showing, and they got a point from Montréal.
7. FC Dallas
Previous ranking: N/A
Asier Illarramendi’s goal was a beauty and then Dante Sealy capped off his successful transition to wing-back with a stoppage-time
winner over San Jose. With Petar Musa’s paperwork finally done and both Jesús Ferreira and Paxton Pomykal making their way back from injury, reinforcements should be on their way
soon too.
play0:49Dante Sealy’s stoppage-time winner wins it for FC DallasDante Sealy finds
the back of the net in stopage time to give FC Dallas the 2-1 win over the
Earthquakes.
8. New York Red Bulls
Previous ranking: N/A
RBNY will have to find a way to get their forwards closer to goal, but they
hit the post three times and should have walked away with a win in
Nashville, so it was a hopeful start to the season.
9. Nashville SC
Previous ranking: N/A
The Coyotes were as listless going forward as you’d expect with Hany Mukhtar and Sam Surridge out, but their defense was equally as predictable in a scoreless draw with
RBNY.
10. Minnesota United
Previous ranking: N/A
If the Loons can walk into Austin and cruise to victory then just imagine
what they could do with a permanent head coach.
11. Charlotte FC
Previous ranking: N/A
Charlotte has not built a reputation for being especially well prepared or
organized, but it proved to be both in Dean Smith’s first match in charge.
It was an encouraging start and the 1-0 win over NYCFC is exactly what the
Crown fans deserve.
12. Seattle Sounders
Previous ranking: N/A
Losing in L.A. was not the start that the Sounders were hoping for, but Pedro de la Vega gave them every reason to believe that bringing the Argentine in was money
well spent, and they probably won’t be without four starters in too many
games going forward.
play0:57Mateusz Bogusz scores a sensational goal to double LAFC’s leadMateusz
Bogusz curls home a goal from distance to give LAFC a 2-0 lead over the
Sounders.
13. Atlanta United FC
Previous ranking: N/A
The Five Stripes were mostly impotent in their loss to Columbus, but
there’s no reason to worry. First of all, the Crew are very good, but
second of all, Atlanta got the ball to Thiago Almada a lot. If they can continue to get their young star the ball in dangerous,
central positions as they did in the opener, then chances are going to come.
14. Houston Dynamo
Previous ranking: N/A
It’s always tough coming off a midweek Concacaf Champions Cup match, and
the Dynamo looked understandably beat, but they managed a point, which is
pretty good for this tough start to the season when they’re balancing
continental play. Plus, Gabriel Segal scored on his debut and debut goals are always fun.
15. Portland Timbers
Previous ranking: N/A
The Timbers were not able to keep up the four-goals-per-30-minutes pace
they began the season with, but it was a terrific 4-1 win over Colorado
nonetheless. If the first game is any indication, this could be a big year
for Eryk Williamson.
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16. Sporting Kansas City
Previous ranking: N/A
It wasn’t the prettiest performance by SKC, but Erik Thommy won a battle against the whole Houston defense, and they’re already
one-third of the way to their point total from the first 10 matches last
season, so things are looking up.
17. Real Salt Lake
Previous ranking: N/A
RSL probably deserved something out of their second half against Miami, but
the shaky first half was enough to sink them anyway. That they bounced back
to draw in St. Louis was very impressive, and they’ve now put together
three-of-four good halves in two difficult road matches to start the
season. While one point from the opening week won’t impress, there’s a lot
to like from Pablo Mastroeni’s team already.
18. D.C. United
Previous ranking: N/A
Playing for more than an hour up a man means we didn’t really learn a lot
about D.C. in its win over New England, but an entire game of throwing
alley-oops to Christian Benteke is both very effective and very fun.
19. St. Louis City SC
Previous ranking: N/A
St. Louis ran teams out of the building to start last season because it had
a clear, defined way of playing. That’s what made it so weird to see City
be so unorganized against RSL, but that will probably come together before
long. Plus, Samuel Adeniran’s goal was awesome and St. Louis walked away with a draw.
20. LA Galaxy
Previous ranking: N/A
The Galaxy attack looked dangerous, as expected, and they probably should
have scored a couple more goals, but a saved penalty and near misses
limited them to one. Add a replacement-ref red card and you have a would-be
win turned into a 1-1 draw with Miami.
play0:52Lionel Messi levels game for Inter Miami in 92nd minuteLionel Messi scores
off Jordi Alba’s pass to level the match at 1-1 vs. the LA Galaxy.
21. Vancouver Whitecaps
Previous ranking: N/A
A season-opening bye is such a bummer.
22. New England Revolution
Previous ranking: N/A
It’s too bad Giacomo Vrioni’s 25th-minute red card doomed the Revs to a loss in D.C. because Carles Gil’s gorgeous goal deserved to matter.
23. New York City FC
Previous ranking: N/A
An attack that couldn’t create, conceding on a set piece and general
ineptitude away from home? NYCFC looked a lot like their 2023 selves in
their loss to Charlotte.
24. CF Montréal
Previous ranking: N/A
A draw in Orlando is a good result for any team, let alone one coming off a
rough offseason under a new manager. It was a promising start for the
Laurent Courtois era.
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25. Chicago Fire
Previous ranking: N/A
Brian Gutierrez’s goal was an absolute banger and the Fire left from Philly with a point.
Talk about a productive opener from a team desperate to take a step forward
this season.
26. San Jose Earthquakes
Previous ranking: N/A
A loss to Dallas? Not good. The continued rumors of Daniel leaving? Also not good.
27.Toronto FC
Previous ranking: N/A
At no point in the Reds’ 90 minutes at Cincy did they shoot themselves in
the foot. That may not seem like a lot, but this is a team that finished
dead last in the league last season playing away to the Shield-holders.
Getting out of their own way is a big step forward.
28. Austin FC
Previous ranking: N/A
No boss began this season with a hotter seat than Josh Wolff and a pretty
thorough home loss to a managerless Minnesota won’t do much to take the
pressure off.
29. Colorado Rapids
Previous ranking: N/A
What was worse: being three goals down before the half-hour mark of their
season or conceding four goals against three shots on target? It wasn’t a
good day for the Rapids in Portland.
Source: Columbus ended 2023 winning MLS Cup, and the Crew began this season looking like the class of the league.
