RSL Moves Up In Power Rankings After 1-1 Draw With Chicago

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After a 1-1 draw on the road with the Chicago Fire last week, Real Salt Lake has moved up two spots in the latest KSL Sports Major League Soccer Power Rankings.

It was a light week for MLS as the international break is wrapping up and the league will have a full slate of games this week.

U.S. Open Cup play and the Gold Cup was the reason for the break, but LAFC still sits in the top spot in the league even though they haven’t played an MLS match in weeks.

Here are the rest of the rankings after Week 16:

1. LAFC (11-1-4, 37 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: LAFC has been making a run in U.S. Open Cup play during the international break. They will play in the quarterfinals on July 10. LAFC is at the top of the table in Major League Soccer.

Previous Ranking: 1

Next Up: at Colorado Rapids (4-9-4), Friday at 8 p.m.

5⃣ Assists
3⃣ Goals
3⃣x @MLS Team of the Week@MarkThEwizz is an #MLSAllStar

🎟 https://t.co/3xzAHMvax0 pic.twitter.com/c9yVPWR3Ts

— LAFC (@LAFC) June 24, 2019

2. LA Galaxy (10-6-1, 31 Points)

Results: 2-0 win over FC Cincinnati on the road.

Recap: For the first time in a while, Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not get on the score sheet for the first time in a while. Instead, Emmanuel Boateng and Favio Alvarez picked up the slack and gave the visitors the three points. Both goals were scored within the first 15 minutes of the game, essentially killing the game early.

Previous Ranking: 3

Next Up: at San Jose Earthquakes (5-6-4), Saturday at 8 p.m.

3. Philadelphia Union (9-4-4, 31 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: The Union will look to shake the rust off with two games on the road this week.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next Up: at New England Revolution (4-8-4), Wednesday at 5 p.m.
at NYCFC (5-1-8), Saturday at 5 p.m.

4. Montreal Impact (8-7-3, 27 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: The Impact will hope to keep their momentum going with two big matches this week.

Previous Ranking: 9

Next Up: vs. Portland Timbers (5-7-2), Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
at Atlanta United FC (8-5-2), Saturday at 4 p.m.

Quatre jours avant le prochain match à la maison, on a hâte à mercredi!
Four days 'til our next home game. Can't wait for Wednesday!

🎟️ >> https://t.co/dDagRKD9kk#IMFC #AllezMTL pic.twitter.com/aW7Ar0KN7S

— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) June 22, 2019

5. D.C. United (7-4-6, 27 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: D.C. United has been off for a couple of weeks and will spring into action this week with two matches at home.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next Up: vs. Orlando City SC (5-7-3), Wednesday at 6 p.m.
vs. Toronto FC (5-7-4), Saturday at 6 p.m.

6. Atlanta United FC (8-5-2, 26 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: The break might have come at a bad time for Atlanta, who has gained a lot of momentum. They will have two games this week against quality Eastern Conference foes.

Previous Ranking: 5

Next Up: at Toronto FC (5-7-4), Wednesday at 6 p.m.
vs. Montreal Impact (8-7-3), Saturday at 4 p.m.

7. Seattle Sounders FC (7-4-5, 26 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: The Sounders will jump back into MLS play with a game against Vancouver.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next Up: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4-6-7), Saturday at 8 p.m.

8. FC Dallas (7-6-4, 25 Points)

Result: 3-0 win over Toronto FC at home.

Recap: Domonique Badji scored a brace and Bressan added to the victory. FC Dallas humiliated Toronto at home having 22 shots to Toronto’s 6. They also dominated 56 percent possession. Granted, Toronto was without star players Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore.

Previous Ranking: 10

Next Up: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4-6-7), Wednesday at 7 p.m.
at Portland Timbers (5-7-2), Sunday at 9 p.m.

🔜 #SoundersMatchday

5️⃣ reasons why you can’t miss Saturday’s match vs. @WhitecapsFC!
@SeatGeek | 📝 https://t.co/2O52Dz4CWL pic.twitter.com/v420xa6ZUA

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) June 25, 2019

9. New York Red Bulls (7-6-3, 24 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: The Red Bulls will shake off the rust at home against Chicago, who has played one game since the break where NYRB hasn’t.

Previous Ranking: 7

Next Up: vs. Chicago Fire (4-6-7), Friday at 6 p.m.

10. NYCFC (5-1-8, 23 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: New York continues to climb the rankings after a shaky start to the season. They will have a tough challenge coming out of the break.

Previous Ranking: 11

Next Up: vs. Philadelphia Union (9-4-4), Saturday at 5 p.m.

11. Houston Dynamo (7-4-3, 24 Points)

Result: 4-0 loss to the Portland Timbers on the road.

Recap: Houston was on the back end of the Portland Timbers 4-0 routing. Four different goal scorers helped the Timbers humiliate the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo lost in every meaningful statistic.

Previous Ranking: 8

Next Up: at San Jose Earthquakes (5-6-4), Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
at New England Revolution (4-8-4), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

12. Minnesota United FC (6-7-3, 21 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: Minnesota will have a great opportunity to gain 3 points out of the break with a nationally televised match against the struggling FC Cincinnati squad.

Previous Ranking: 12

Next Up: vs. FC Cincinnati (3-12-2), Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.

13. Real Salt Lake (6-8-2, 20 Points)

Result: 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire on the road.

Recap: Real Salt Lake picked up a scrappy point on the road against the Chicago Fire. Albert Rusnak scored from the penalty spot in the first half that equalized things for RSL. The second half was dominated by the Fire, however RSL were able to run out of Seatgeek stadium with a point.

Previous Ranking: 15

Recap on Saturday's game
📃➡️https://t.co/cfROnimuEO pic.twitter.com/bmE7TuGNBv

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 24, 2019

Next Up: vs. Sporting Kansas City (4-5-7), Saturday at 8 p.m. on sports.ksl.com or the KSL TV app.

14. San Jose Earthquakes (5-6-4, 19 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: It won’t be easy for the Earthquakes coming off a long break. They will face two really good Western Conference teams in one week.

Previous Ranking: 14

Next Up: vs. Houston Dynamo (7-4-3), Wednesday at 8:30 p.m.
vs. LA Galaxy (10-6-1), Saturday at 8 p.m.

15. Chicago Fire (4-6-7, 19 Points)

Result: 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake at home.

Recap: The Fire were deserving of three points but were unable to score in the second half and had to settle for a point. Gaitan was spectacular throughout the match as he played a big role in just about every attacking opportunity for the home side.

Previous Ranking: 17

Next Up: at New York Red Bulls (7-6-3), Friday at 6 p.m.

16. Orlando City SC (5-7-3, 18 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: Two games in one week will be hard enough for Orlando, let alone facing D.C. United right out of the gates on the road.

Previous Ranking: 13

Next Up: at D.C. United (7-4-6), Wednesday at 6 p.m.
at Columbus Crew (5-10-2), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

You better believe ball is life. #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/u6lGH2zYGG

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) June 25, 2019

17. Sporting Kansas City (4-5-7, 19 Points)

Result: 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew on the road.

Recap: Felipe Gutierrez scored the only goal of the match as SKC picked up three points on the road for the visitors. They won the possession battle, and also had more shots.

Previous Ranking: 21

Next Up: at Real Salt Lake (6-8-2), Saturday at 6 p.m. on sports.ksl.com or the KSL TV app.

18. Portland Timbers FC (5-7-2, 17 Points)

Result: 4-0 win over the Houston Dynamo at home.

Recap: Portland seems to be fitting into their new stadium very nicely. A 4-0 rout of the Houston Dynamo that included four different goal scorers and a very convincing win. The second half of the season predominantly consists of home games which will be very important for the Timbers to make a playoff push.

Previous Ranking: 20

Next Up: at Montreal Impact (8-7-3), Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
vs. FC Dallas (7-6-4), Sunday at 9 p.m.

19. Vancouver Whitecaps (4-6-7, 19 Points)

Result: 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids at home.

Recap: Despite conceding the first two goals, the Whitecaps scored the final two goals of the game to pinch a point away from the Colorado Rapids at home. Fredy Montero scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time of the first half and Yordy Reyna scored in the 80th minute to save the Whitecaps from losing to the lonely Rapids.

Previous Ranking: 19

Next Up: at FC Dallas (7-6-4), Wednesday at 7 p.m.
at Seattle Sounders FC (7-4-5), Saturday at 8 p.m.

It's baaaaaaack!

Four straight games away from home? What better time to bring back roommates on the road ✈️.

Introducing your new host @jake_nerwinski 🎤 #VWFC | #DALvVAN pic.twitter.com/HyyJyWUUrT

— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) June 25, 2019

20. Toronto FC (5-7-4, 19 Points)

Result: 3-0 loss to FC Dallas on the road.

Recap: Toronto was dominated in all facets of the game as they were humiliated by FC Dallas away from home. However, Toronto was without their captain Michael Bradley and star striker Jozy Altidore.

Previous Ranking: 16

Next Up: vs. Atlanta United FC (8-5-2), Wednesday at 6 p.m.
at D.C. United (7-4-6), Saturday at 6 p.m.

21. New England Revolution (4-8-4, 16 Points)

Result: Bye Week

Recap: Facing the Union at home will be a tall task for New England. We’ll see how the long break treated them.

Previous Ranking: 18

Next Up: vs. Philadelphia Union (9-4-4), Wednesday at 5 p.m.
vs. Houston Dynamo (7-4-3), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

22. Columbus Crew (5-10-2, 17 Points)

Result: 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City at home.

Recap: Columbus continue to fall down the Eastern Conference standings as they lost at home to SKC, who have not had a good season to date. Harrison Afful received a red card in the 74th minute after pulling down SKC striker Gerso, denying him of an obvious goal scoring opportunity.

Previous Ranking: 22

Next Up: vs. Orlando City SC (5-7-3), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday we honor a legend 💛#ThankYouSigi x #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/ehpyGhe7rG

— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) June 25, 2019

23. Colorado Rapids (4-9-4, 16 Points)

Result: 2-2 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps on the road.

Recap: The Rapids were ten minutes away from pinching three points from the Vancouver Whitecaps, but an 80th minute goal from Yordy Reyna gave the hosts a much needed point. Regardless, a much better brand of soccer is being played by the Rapids which should give them confidence moving forward.

Previous Ranking: 24

Next Up: vs. LAFC (11-1-4), Friday at 8 p.m.

24. FC Cincinnati (3-12-2, 11 Points)

Result: 2-0 loss to the LA Galaxy at home.

Recap: FC Cincinnati struggled against the powerhouse that is the LA Galaxy. They kept Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoreless but conceded two goals in the first 15 minutes which essentially killed the game before it even started.

Previous Ranking: 23

Next Up: at Minnesota United FC (6-7-3), Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.