DC United Climbing MLS Standings With Big Wins

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – D.C. United is off to a great start to their 2019 season, having won three of their first four matches and have yet to be defeated.

LAFC for the time being, is in the top spot for the second consecutive week.

Five weeks into the Major League Soccer season, the Columbus Crew have won three matches and moved up nine spots in the latest KSL Sports power rankings.

Real Salt Lake has picked up four red cards in just three games. They lost a disappointing match at home against FC Dallas. They dropped four spots and will face a tough Seattle club on the road on Saturday.

Here are the MLS Power Rankings after Week 5:

1. LAFC (4-0-1, 13 Points)

Result: 5-0 win against San Jose Earthquakes on the road.

Recap: A Carlos Vela hat trick and a 5-0 thumping of the winless Earthquakes away from home is enough to keep LAFC in top spot. They are a sensational team with a lot of attacking weapons. They ended the day with 20 shots and 10 on target. Wow.

Previous Ranking: 1

Next Up: at D.C. United (3-0-1), Saturday at 1 p.m.

A hat trick and an assist in our 5-0 win over San Jose. @11carlosV has been named @MLS player of the week 💪

📰 https://t.co/iOp9sbmiKS pic.twitter.com/weNEV1qRHU

— LAFC (@LAFC) April 1, 2019

2. D.C. United (3-0-1, 10 Points)

Result: 2-1 win over Orlando City SC on the road.

Recap: Wayne Rooney’s class proved too much for Nani and Dom Dwyer. Rooney found a way to score from a free kick that was positioned just in front of the corner flag. Bill Hamid and the D.C. defense conceded their first goal in 2019.  

Previous Ranking: 3

Next Up: vs. LAFC (4-0-1), Saturday at 1 p.m.

Here are some smooth moves from our road game against Orlando! 🤟🤟🤟🤟@TSmoothieCafe #DCU | #ORLvDC | #SmoothieMove pic.twitter.com/BAoSseuYqn

— D.C. United (@dcunited) April 1, 2019

3. Columbus Crew (3-1-1, 10 Points)

Result: 2-0 win over Atlanta United at home.

Recap: In torrential rain and freezing temperatures, the Crew was able to continue their fine form and beat the reigning MLS champs 2-0. Federico Higuain had his penalty kicked saved by Brad Guzan as the match should have ended 3-0.

Previous Ranking: 12

Next Up: vs. New England Revolution (1-3-1), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Glory to Columbus 🙌#Crew96 pic.twitter.com/yVzxfMaqw4

— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) March 31, 2019

4. Seattle Sounders FC (3-0-1, 10 Points)

Result: 0-0 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps on the road.

Recap: A disappointing draw for the in-form Sounders. Against the Whitecaps, the Sounders had many opportunities to pick up the three points but were unable to capitalize. A total of 14 shots but only 3 on target, shooting practice needed this week as they prepare for Real Salt Lake.

Previous Ranking: 2

Next Up: vs. Real Salt Lake (1-3-1), Saturday at 8 p.m.

5. Toronto FC (3-0-0, 9 Points)

Result: 4-0 win over NYCFC at home.

Recap: A massive result against a very talented NYCFC team. Alejandro Pozuelo scored a brace as the hosts smashed NYCFC, 4-0. A very promising performance. Onwards and upwards for the boys in Canada!

Previous Ranking: 5

Next Up: vs. Chicago Fire (1-2-1), Saturday at 1 p.m.

6. Houston Dynamo (3-0-1, 10 Points)

Result: 4-1 win over Colorado Rapids on the road.

Recap: The Dynamo spread the love against the Rapids as four separate scorers gave the visiting club a convincing 4-1 victory. Houston is playing a great brand of football and will go into their bye week with momentum.

Previous Ranking: 8

Next Up: Bye Week

7. FC Dallas (3-1-1, 10 Points)

Result: 4-2 win over Real Salt Lake on the road.

Recap: FC Dallas played a very nice game on the road. Any time Real Salt Lake seemed to pick up some momentum, Dallas was able to respond and sucked the energy out of Rio Tinto Stadium. Paxton Pomykal scored a brace and dominated the game after going up a man in the 17th minute.

Previous Ranking: 7

Next Up: at Philadelphia Union (2-2-1), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

8. LA Galaxy (3-1-0, 9 Points)

Result: 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers at home.

Recap: Zlatan Ibrahomivoc received and converted two penalty kicks to solidify the 3 points. Ibra nearly scored one of the goals of the decade, unfortunately the ball hit the post. The Galaxy are again on track to push for the MLS Cup.

Previous Ranking: 9

Next Up: at Vancouver Whitecaps (0-3-1), Friday at 8 p.m.

9. FC Cincinnati (2-2-1, 7 Points)

Result: 2-0 loss to Philadelphia Union at home.

Recap: Cincinnati came crashing back down to reality after back to back wins. They lost to the Union at home in disappointing fashion. The home team was trounced on home turf, losing the possession battle and only having 5 shots, compared to the visiting Union who accumulated 16 shots.

Previous Ranking: 4

Next Up: vs. Sporting Kansas City (2-1-1), Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

10. Sporting Kansas City (2-1-1, 7 Points)

Result: 7-1 win over Montreal Impact at home.

Recap: SKC came back to life as they smacked the Impact 7-1. Krisztian Nemeth scored a hat trick and Johnny Russell had a brace. Everything seemed to be working for the home team. Could this be the match that springboards SKC back into form?

Previous Ranking: 14

Next Up: at FC Cincinnati (2-2-1), Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.

11. Philadelphia Union (2-2-1, 7 Points)

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

Recap: An impressive 2-0 victory over one of the in-form teams in the country. The Union dominated the football on the road having 55 percent possession and accumulating 16 shots, however only 3 of them were on target.

Previous Ranking: 16

Next Up: vs. FC Dallas (3-1-1), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

12. Minnesota United FC (2-2-0, 6 Points)

Result: 2-1 loss to New England Revolution on the road.

Recap: Darwin Quintero continues to prove how much of a force he is in front of goal as the Colombian international once again got on the scorers sheet. However, it was not enough as United lost to the New England Revolution who picked up their first win of the season.

Previous Ranking: 6

Next Up: at New York Red Bulls (1-2-1), Saturday at 5 p.m.

13. Orlando City SC (1-2-2, 5 Points)

Result: 2-1 loss to D.C. United at home.

Recap: Despite being able to score the first goal against the wall that was Bill Hamid and the D.C. United defense this season, Orlando wasn’t able to capitalize on home pitch advantage. The chances were there as Nani headed the ball over and in the dying minutes of the game Chris Mueller rattled the post.

Previous Ranking: 11

Next Up: vs. Colorado Rapids (0-3-2), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

14. Montreal Impact (2-2-0, 6 Points)

Result: 7-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City on the road.

Recap: Prior to this past weekend, the Impact had only conceded 4 goals. They had 7 put on them by Sporting Kansas City. No red cards were given, the entire 90 minutes was 11 versus 11 and for whatever reason the game plan and/or execution was not up to standard as the Impact were handed the worst loss of Week 5 in MLS.

Previous Ranking: 10

Next Up: at NYCFC (0-1-3), Saturday at 11 a.m.

15. New York Red Bulls (1-2-1, 4 Points)

Result: 1-0 loss to Chicago Fire on the road.

Recap: Winning on the road in MLS is harder than it sounds, winning on the road while scoring an own goal is even harder. Unfortunately, for Red Bulls defender Tim Parker, he was on the poor end of things as his deflection ended up in the back of his own net in the 48th minute.

Previous Ranking: 15

Next Up: vs. Minnesota United (2-2-0), Saturday at 5 p.m.

16. Chicago Fire (1-2-1, 4 Points)

Result: 1-0 win over New York Red Bulls at home.

Recap: A less than convincing win, but a win nonetheless. An own goal was the difference as the Fire picked up their first three points of the season despite only having 36 percent possession. Hopefully this result is enough to will the Fire into some form. They are going to need it against Toronto this weekend.

Previous Ranking: 21

Next Up: at Toronto FC (3-0-0), Saturday at 1 p.m.

17. Real Salt Lake (1-3-1, 4 Points)

Result: 4-2 loss to FC Dallas at home.

Recap: Damir Kreilach was shown a red card in the 17th minute, which brought the total to 4 red cards in 3 matches for Real Salt Lake. Constantly on the back foot being down a man, RSL were never any shot of picking up points against FC Dallas. Three consecutive losses and another tough road trip coming up as they head to CenturyLink Field.

Previous Ranking: 13

Next Up: at Seattle Sounders (3-0-1), Saturday at 8 p.m. on sports.ksl.com and the KSL TV app.

18. New England Revolution (1-3-1, 4 Points)

Result: 2-1 win over Minnesota United FC at home.

Recap: A much needed win for the Revolution as they move off the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. A well deserving victory for the Revs as they were the better team on the day and controlled the match.

Previous Ranking: 22

Next Up: at Columbus Crew (3-1-1), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

19. NYCFC (0-1-3, 3 Points)

Result: 4-0 loss to Toronto FC on the road.

Recap: NYCFC are off to a very dismal start to 2019, and over the weekend it did not get any better. A 4-0 drumming from Toronto FC on the road. NYCFC only had 7 shots and 3 shots on goal. The ball was constantly being played in their own half.

Previous Ranking: 17

Next Up: vs. Montreal Impact (2-2-0), Saturday at 11 a.m.

20. Colorado Rapids (0-3-2, 2 Points)

Result: 4-1 loss to Houston Dynamo at home.

Recap: Just when it looked like the tide was turning for the Rapids, the Dynamo blow them out 4-1 on their home turf. Two own goals did not help the home teams odds and a late red card to Tommy Smith for violent conduct means he must sit out for the big game against Orlando City this week.

Previous Ranking: 19

Next Up: at Orlando City SC (1-2-2), Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

21. Atlanta United FC (0-2-2, 2 Points)

Result: 2-0 loss to Columbus Crew on the road.

Recap: The reigning MLS Cup champs have yet to win a game this season. In a downpour and freezing temperatures, United was unable to create any real chances against a good Colombus Crew team. The loss of Almiron has had a real effect on the reigning champs.

Previous Ranking: 18

Next Up: Bye Week

22. Vancouver Whitecaps (0-3-1, 1 Point)

Result: 0-0 draw against Seattle Sounders at home.

Recap: A much needed point may give the Whitecaps the momentum they needed in 2019. Their first point of the year did not come without controversy, Hwang In-Beom was granted a penalty only for it to be overturned by VAR in the 94^th minute. Regardless, a nice point for the Whitecaps.

Previous Ranking: 23

Next Up: vs. LA Galaxy (3-1-0), Friday at 8 p.m.

23. Portland Timbers FC (0-3-1, 1 Point)

Result: 2-1 loss to LA Galaxy on the road.

Recap: The buildup to Jeremyu Ebobisse’s goal was Barcalona-esque. Sensational passing was on display however unfortunately it was not enough to stop Zlatan Ibrahimovic from scoring a brace and consequently taking the 3 points away from the Timbers. Portland is in unfamiliar territory as they are normally atop the Western Conference.

Previous Ranking: 20

Next Up: at San Jose Earthquakes (0-4-0), Saturday at 6 p.m.

24. San Jose Earthquakes (0-4-0, 0 Points)

Result: 5-0 loss to LAFC at home.

Recap: A 5-0 thumping from LAFC was the last thing the Earthquakes needed after they continue to start the season in a struggle. Winless so far through 4 weeks. Something has to change in San Jose.

Previous Ranking: 24

Next Up: vs. Portland Timbers (0-3-1), Saturday at 6 p.m.