Week 12 was the first of the MLS Rivalry Week Presented By Heineken weeks of the season. It’s a However, MLS missed the boat with some of these "rivalry" matchups, focusing on certain derby matchups and manufacturing others while neglecting some of the major rivalries that have carried this league. It led to some lopsided contests, most notably the 7-0 arm of destruction that the New York Red Bulls distributed to New York City FC. Seriously, that match was ridiculous and included a team that's only been in MLS a season and a third that hasn't yet won a match against their biggest "rival", only scoring 2 goals in their 4 games.
There were plenty of matchups that should have been held until Rivalry Week to give newcomers a glimpse at the rivalries that have stood the test of time: D.C. United-New York Red Bulls, Portland Timbers-Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas-Houston Dynamo should have absolutely been a part of this week. Yet, the league chose to focus on the Hudson River Derby and not the Atlantic Cup, which is the oldest rivalry in MLS. Maybe one year they will get this right, but instead of trying to hype some of these secondary rivalry matchups, they could introduce new fans to the ones that the league was built on and the ones that matter more to the fans.
The Colorado Rapids continue to remain on top of the Power Rankings with their victory on the road in Seattle over the weekend. FC Dallas is nipping at their heels in the 2 spot. Your beloved D.C. United, fresh off a late heartbreaking loss to the Philadelphia Union, drops a spot to #17 while the Columbus Crew SC occupy the bottom of the Rankings. But, now it’s your turn. Which rivalries did you want to see last weekend? Are Colorado and Dallas really the top two teams in MLS? Do you think the Black-and-Red are sitting too low? You know what’s up…hit those comments and tell us!
|
Rank
|
Team
|
LW
|
Points
|
GP
|
Comment
|
|
1
|
Colorado Rapids
|
1
|
27
|
13
|
Beat Seattle on the road and still on top.
|
|
2
|
FC Dallas
|
3
|
26
|
14
|
Torched the Revs to keep pace with Colorado.
|
|
3
|
|
2
|
20
|
11
|
Didn’t look great but escaped with the draw at home.
|
|
4
|
6
|
19
|
12
|
Scored both goals in the 1-1 draw in the Cali Clasico.
|
|
|
5
|
|
7
|
20
|
11
|
Spanked KC and looked good doing it.
|
|
6
|
Philadelphia Union
|
8
|
18
|
11
|
It took until stoppage time but got the late goal to beat DC at home.
|
|
7
|
|
4
|
20
|
14
|
Tried to keep it close in Portland, but eventually couldn’t hang with the champs.
|
|
8
|
|
5
|
16
|
12
|
Couldn’t break even against Orlando.
|
|
9
|
New York Red Bulls
|
17
|
16
|
13
|
Wow…just wow. You spank someone by 7 goals, you get the boost.
|
|
10
|
|
11
|
16
|
12
|
Couple draws on the week and they get to keep Sebastian Giovinco during Euro 2016.
|
|
11
|
9
|
17
|
14
|
Got handled by Real Salt Lake at home.
|
|
|
12
|
Portland Timbers |
15
|
15
|
13
|
Champs put their foot on Vancouver’s chest and showed they mean business.
|
|
13
|
Seattle Sounders
|
12
|
13
|
11
|
Lost to Colorado at home, but hang onto Jordan Morris during Copa America.
|
|
14
|
|
13
|
14
|
11
|
Hold off Montreal at home.
|
|
15
|
New York City FC
|
10
|
17
|
13
|
Draw against TFC midweek doesn’t matter. Got. Ab. So. Lute. Ly. Worked. By. Red Bull.
|
|
16
|
|
14
|
13
|
13
|
They got bumped by Dallas.
|
|
17
|
D.C. United
|
16
|
13
|
12
|
Late loss against Philly.
|
|
18
|
|
20
|
10
|
11
|
Got a victory and now have double digit points.
|
|
19
|
Houston Dynamo
|
18
|
11
|
12
|
Lost to Chicago.
|
|
20
|
Columbus Crew SC
|
19
|
11
|
11
|
Draw in Toronto but are hovering at the bottom.
|