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We have officially reached crunch time in the MLS season. With only 5 weeks left in the season, there isn't a lot of time left for teams to state their case for making the playoffs. Some teams have games in hand and some only have 4 left. Either way, the league play is going to have to be at its best.
What won't help most teams? Draws. Still, half the matches in Week 29 ended up deadlocked at the full time whistle. On one hand, it speaks to the parity this league has, where anyone can get a result against any other team. On the other hand, teams now need all the points they can get to be above that red line at the end of the season and book a spot in the postseason. Let's see if the teams that need 3 points, specifically our beloved D.C. United, can get them this weekend. Draws at this point in the season simply won't help.
Now, here are the Power Rankings for this week. FC Dallas maintains the top spot while the Chicago Fire (probably harshly) falls back to the bottom. The Black-and-Red fall a couple spots to #13. Let's hear from you, though. Who's ranked too high or too low? Which team has the most important match this weekend? Finally, which team has the most left to do to make the playoffs or secure the Shield? Comments are open, so get to it!
|
Rank |
Team |
LW |
Points |
GP |
Comment |
|
1 |
FC Dallas |
1 |
52 |
30 |
Difficult draw in the Bronx, but still have their hold on the Shield. |
|
2 |
2 |
48 |
30 |
Late equalizer from Landon Donovan gives the Galaxy a point against KC. |
|
|
3 |
3 |
47 |
28 |
Scoreless draw against San Jose. |
|
|
4 |
5 |
47 |
29 |
Entertaining draw against the Red Bulls. |
|
|
5 |
6 |
45 |
30 |
A draw against Dallas was an excellent result. |
|
|
6 |
4 |
44 |
30 |
They lose to Houston and they probably will regret those lost points later. |
|
|
7 |
7 |
45 |
30 |
A lot of goals but only could muster a draw. |
|
|
8 |
9 |
40 |
30 |
Gave LA all they could handle but gave up a late goal to end in a draw. |
|
|
9 |
8 |
41 |
30 |
Go down to Portland on the road. |
|
|
10 |
10 |
38 |
29 |
Surprisingly thumped by the Revs. |
|
|
11 |
13 |
41 |
30 |
Beat the Union at home and stay above the playoff line. |
|
|
12 |
15 |
36 |
30 |
Huge victory for them to stay a couple points above DC and Orlando for 6th place. |
|
|
13 |
D.C. United |
11 |
34 |
29 |
Every game should come with free Pepto Bismol for the heartburn…but they can’t draw their way into the playoffs. |
|
14 |
14 |
34 |
28 |
Scoreless draw in Colorado. |
|
|
15 |
17 |
35 |
28 |
Beat Vancouver at home and needed those points. |
|
|
16 |
12 |
34 |
29 |
Lost heavily to Columbus. Huge match looms Saturday in DC. |
|
|
17 |
16 |
34 |
30 |
Loss in Seattle hurts their playoff chances. |
|
|
18 |
18 |
29 |
28 |
A victory to play spoiler against Salt Lake. |
|
|
19 |
20 |
29 |
28 |
They destroy Orlando and actually still have a shot at playoffs. |
|
|
20 |
Chicago Fire |
19 |
27 |
28 |
Should have won, had the win in hand…and then somehow snatched a draw from the hands of victory. |