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MLS Power Rankings Week 4: Miami return to winning ways

bet365 News Team Updated: Mar 19 2024 19:05

Week four of MLS action draws to a close and early performances suggest we may already know the names of certain teams that will make the MLS Cup playoffs.

With action concluding for another week, here is the current power rankings for the season.

1. Inter Miami

W3 D1 L1, 1st Eastern Conference

Miami bounced back from their 3-2 defeat to Montreal with a comfortable 3-1 victory at D.C United on the weekend, with Luis Suarez notching his third and fourth goals for the season.

The Herons are the current top scorers in MLS with 13 goals already this season and the likes of Suarez and Lionel Messi - who has four goal contributions so far - are showing no signs of slowing down in these early stages of the campaign.

2. Columbus Crew

W3 D1 L0, 2nd Eastern Conference

Reigning champions Crew continued their unbeaten start to the season with a resounding 3-0 win at home to the New York Red Bulls, with former Watford striker tallying a goal and an assist.

The Crew are only behind Inter Miami on goal difference and they do have a game in hand over the current Eastern Conference leaders. With only two goals conceded so far, the side from Ohio are proving to be very difficult to break down.

3. Minnesota United

W3 D1, L0, 1st Western Conference

The Loons are yet to taste defeat in the league after battling to a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles at the weekend. Second goals of the season for Robin Lod and Bongokuhle Hlongwane sealed all three points for Minnesota.

Their three victories so far in the league have not been via dominant performances but Eric Ramsay’s men are doing enough to get the job done and could be a thorn in the side of any of the MLS Cup favorites.

4. FC Cincinnati

W2 D2 L0, 3rd Eastern Conference

Cincinnati bowed out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup with defeats in both legs against Mexican outfit Monterrey but they managed to return to winning ways in MLS by claiming all three points against New England Revolution, who are yet to register as much as a draw.

The Garys lost the Eastern Conference final to eventual winners Columbus Crew in extra time last year and you can bet that Pat Noonan’s men will be vying for vengeance this time around.

5. Vancouver Whitecaps

W2 D1 L0, 2nd Western Conference

First half strikes from Mathias Laborda, Brian White and Fafa Picault put FC Dallas to the sword and moved the Whitecaps up to second in the Western Conference.

Vancouver have played one game fewer than leaders Minnesota and both are level on goal difference, so winning their game in hand would put them top of the pile providing they can keep pace with first place until then.

6. CF Montreal

W2 D1 L1, 4th Eastern Conference

The Impact were 3-1 up with six minutes to go of regular time, but a red card to Raheem Edwards started a shocking capitulation. Two goals in added time saw Chicago Fire claim an unbelievable 4-3 victory over Montreal, who are proving to be the league’s entertainers this year - perhaps to the chagrin of their own supporters.

7. Portland Timbers

W2 D1 L1, 3rd Western Conference

Portland lost their first league game of the season last weekend as Aliyu Ibrahim’s first half strike was enough to claim all three points for Houston Dynamo.

8. Toronto FC

W2 D1 L1, 5th Eastern Conference

After finishing bottom of the pile last season, Toronto started the season with aplomb - picking up seven points and keeping three clean sheets across their opening three games. However, they suffered their first defeat of the campaign last time out at New York City, whose 2-1 victory put an end to their three game losing streak.

9. New York Red Bulls

W2 D1 L1, 6th Eastern Conference

The Red Bulls found out how far away they are from being genuine title contenders at the weekend after a resounding 3-0 defeat at reigning champions Columbus Crew. It does not get any easier for Sandro Schwarz’ men as their next task sees them face Conference leaders Inter Miami.

10. Atlanta United

W2 D0 L1, 7th Eastern Conference

Atlanta made it two wins on the bounce to move up to seventh thanks to a 2-0 victory over Orlando City at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday.

11. LA Galaxy

W1 D3 L0, 4th Western Conference

Galaxy may have only won one of their opening four league games but they remain unbeaten thanks to defender Maya Yoshida’s 95th minute equalizer in a 3-3 draw with St Louis.

12. St. Louis City

W1 D3 L0, 5th Western Conference

St Louis have had an identical start to LA Galaxy and were arguably unfortunate not to take all three points from Los Angeles, after having come back from a goal down twice before taking a late 3-2 lead.

13. Sporting Kansas City

W1 D3 L0, 6th Western Conference

Sporting finally registered their first win of the season after coming back from one goal down to beat San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 at PayPal Park.

14. Nashville SC

W1 D3 L0, 8th Eastern Conference

Nashville also claimed their first victory of the campaign, with goals from Sam Surridge and Alex Muyl helping the Coyotes to a 2-1 victory at home to Charlotte.

15. Colorado Rapids

W1 D2 L1, 7th Western Conference

After losing their season opener in Portland, the Rapids are now on a three game unbeaten streak. However, they did leave it late to grab a point against Seattle at the weekend, with an 88th minute equalizer from Kevin Cabral ensuring that Colorado avoided defeat.