MLS Power Rankings Week 7: Red Bulls charge to the top

After ending FC Cincinnati's unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 road win, the New York Red Bulls have claimed top spot in our MLS Power Rankings as they sit atop the Eastern Conference standings.

The hierarchy is still settling down in a competitive league but here is our latest edition of the current power rankings after the weekend's games.

1. New York Red Bulls

W4 D2 L1, 1st Eastern Conference

The New York Red Bulls gained some revenge for last season's playoff exit at the hands of FC Cincinnati with a 2-1 win at TQL Stadium.

It was a fourth MLS victory of the season for the Red Bulls, who are beginning to flourish under Sandro Schwarz and have now picked up seven points from their last three games since their loss to Columbus four games ago.

2. Vancouver Whitecaps

W4 D1 L1, 1st Western Conference

These are power rankings, not power standings, so a team's position won't always correspond with their current position in the league, but in this case we do have the two conference leaders in the top two spots.

The Whitecaps crushed their fellow Canadians Toronto FC 4-0 and have now scored seven goals in their last two games.

3. Philadelphia Union

W3 D3 L0, 2nd Eastern Conference

The Union have climbed the standings into second place in the East with three straight wins after a low-key start to the campaign and they look capable of remaining in the mix at the top. They are the last unbeaten team in MLS.

4. Columbus Crew

W3 D3 L1, 4th Eastern Conference

MLS Cup holders Columbus Crew have secured back-to-back draws since their 2-0 defeat to Charlotte as a 1-1 result against DC United followed a 2-2 game in Nashville.

They are still doing a solid job of remaining in contention in the MLS while also taking care of their matches in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

5. FC Cincinnati

W3 D3 L1, 5th Eastern Conference

FC Cincinnati have lost the lead in the Eastern Conference with their defeat to the Red Bulls and a lack of goals is beginning to be a cause for concern.

While they have allowed only five goals in seven games, Cincy have scored just seven themselves and may need to improve their offensive output to remain contenders.

6. LA Galaxy

W3 D3 L1, 2nd Western Conference

The Galaxy suffered their first defeat of the season in their El Trafico clash with LAFC, which was settled by a Denis Bouanga penalty, but overall they have made a strong start to the season. New signing Joseph Paintsil looks like a star on the wing and Riqui Puig is bossing the midfield as usual.

This week's matchup with Vancouver should tell us plenty about the quality of both teams.

7. Sporting Kansas City

W2 D4 L1, 7th Western Conference

Sporting Kansas City could prove a team to reckon with this season and they have lost only one of their first seven games.

They will be frustrated after allowing a 3-0 lead over Portland to slip in a 3-3 draw in which William Agada scored two of their goals but also missed a penalty that proved to be costly.

8. Minnesota United

W3 D2 L1, 4th Western Conference

Minnesota United have cooled off after a fast start, taking only one point from their last two games as a 2-0 loss against Philadelphia was followed by a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake.

Things might have been even worse as they needed an 86th-minute goal from substitute Tani Oluwaseyi to salvage a point but they showed spirit to take something from the game.

9. Atlanta United

W3 D1 L2, 6th Eastern Conference

Atlanta United have made a strong start to the season defensively, giving up only five goals in their first six games. They were held to a 1-1 tie by New York City this week, though, and need to improve their road form as all three of their wins have come at home.

10. Real Salt Lake

W3 D2 L2, 3rd Western Conference

Real Salt Lake were fifth in the MLS Western Conference last season and have made an impressive start to this campaign too.

They have a red-hot striker in Cristian Arango, who took his goal tally for the season to six by scoring in the 1-1 tie against Minnesota, and the team looks set to make a strong push for the playoffs again.

11. Los Angeles FC

W3 D1 L3, 5th Western Conference

LAFC's confidence will have soared after their derby victory over the Galaxy, which was exactly what they needed after a subdued start to the campaign and a great improvement on their previous 3-2 defeat by the Colorado Rapids.

12. Inter Miami

W3 D3 L2, 3rd Eastern Conference

Inter Miami have posted back-to-back draws against New York City and Colorado but they received a huge boost when star man Lionel Messi was able to return from a hamstring injury to score against the Rapids.

The Argentinian maestro had missed four games and the team's prospects are vastly improved with him back in the lineup. Miami lost three matches and drew one in their captain's absence.

13. DC United

W2 D4 L1, 8th Eastern Conference

DC United have lost only one of their first seven MLS games and have made decent progress by collecting four points from their last two games against Montreal and Columbus.

DC will be disappointed not to have held on for the win over the Columbus Crew after Christian Benteke put DC ahead and Columbus had been reduced to 10 men by the time Aidan Morris equalized in the 87th minute.

14. Houston Dynamo

W3 D1 L2, 6th Western Conference

The Dynamo suffered a setback with a 2-1 loss at Chicago and a lack of goals is letting them down a little as they have tallied only seven total strikes in six games.

15. Colorado Rapids

W2 D3 L2, 9th Western Conference

The Rapids have caught the eye with promising results against strong teams in their last two games, beating LAFC and holding Inter Miami to a draw. They are making rapid progress on the field and in our power rankings as key offseason signings Djordje Mihailovic, Sam Vines and Zack Steffen acclimate.

16. Portland Timbers

17. Austin FC

18. Chicago Fire

19. New York City FC

20. Nashville SC

21. Seattle Sounders

22. Toronto FC

23. CF Montreal

24. Charlotte FC

25. St Louis City

26. Orlando City SC

27. New England Revolution

28. FC Dallas

29. San Jose Earthquakes