MLS Power Rankings: Week 16

July 7, 3:43 PMBoston Pro Soccer ExaminerL.E. Eisenmenger

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1. Houston Dynamo: (-) Beating the Wizards 1-0 this season is no mean feat and confirms that Houston still rules the roost.

2. Chicago Fire: (-) The Fire ended their midseason three-game losing streak with an important win over the Rapids.

3. Colorado Rapids: (-) The Rapids had a lot of smoke and fire this season, but now their staying power is being tested.

4. DC United: (-) DCU drew evenly-matched Columbus this week just as expected.

5. Columbus Crew: (-) Columbus showed their mettle in the tie with DCU and will be off and running if they can pull off a win over the Chicago Fire this week. This match-up should be "Game of the Week."

6. Seattle Sounders: (-) With a bye week behind them, Seattle need to prove they can compete with the big dogs and they have that chance this week when Houston comes to visit.

7. Kansas City Wizards: (+1) Despite the 1-0 loss to Houston, the Wizards are a solid team, play good soccer, and are likely to make the playoffs this year.

8. Chivas USA: (+1) Last week Chivas got dumped in the rankings after a particularly poor showing in SuperLiga and now the loss of Alecko Eskandarian to the Galaxy could set them back again. Prediction: LA @ Chivas will be the testiest game of the week and Chivas may drop back down.

9. Real Salt Lake: (-2) Escaping with a draw thanks to an own goal from the Quakes is nothing to brag about even if RSL were a man down. Salt Lake needs to pull together, particularly with the announcement that Yura Movivsian is leaving for a Danish club in January. So far, this promising team has been a disappointment.

10. LA Galaxy: (+3) The addition of aggressive striker Alecko Eskandarian could be just what this team needs though he does seem a rough-edged pairing with David Beckham and Landon Donovan, the latter who declined to play in the former Chivas player’s first match. The media is digging their teeth into the Donovan/Beckham relationship with the opportune release of another kiss-and-tell Beckham book, and the drama in this team never stops. Great potential for reality TV.

11. Toronto FC: (+1) TFC had a bye week, but now have a chance to pull out of their slump with a big win at the Quakes.

12. New England Revolution: (-2) It’s possible that Steve Nicol is playing his cards close to his chest and in August the Revolution could return as a threat, but it’s a gamble. The Revolution has played only 13 regular games so far this season however, two fewer than any other team. New international striker Edgaras Jankauskas looks like a big addition, but the team’s best players are plagued with injuries, Jay Heaps is out for the Gold Cup, and Wells Thompson out with suspension for this week's rematch with steady Kansas City.

13. FC Dallas: (-) Dallas beat New York 2-1 without Kenny Cooper. Miracles happen.

14. San Jose Earthquakes: (-) The Quakes almost beat Salt Lake (granted RSL were a man down) but then put the ball in their own net just because they’re the Quakes.

15. New York Red Bulls: (-) NY is tied with New England with fewest goals scored (15), allowed the most goals (30), played the most games (19), but has the fewest points (10). What is wrong with this team? Perhaps some kind of federal intervention is necessary.
 

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