Soccer
MLS

MLS Power Rankings Week 8: Houston Dynamo take off

bet365 News Team Updated: Apr 15 2024 17:14

It’s still early in the MLS season but across both conferences, the table is beginning to take shape.

With teams starting to put runs together, here is our latest MLS power rankings after eight weeks of the 2024 campaign.

1. Houston Dynamo

W4 D1 L2, 3rd Western Conference

The Houston Dynamo may be third in the West, but their recent results are too good to ignore.

Four wins in five have transformed a slow start into a great one, pushing them towards the top. With tricky wins at Colorado and Minnesota in there, the Dynamo look strong.

2. LA Galaxy

W4 D3 L1, 1st Western Conference

LA Galaxy lead the way in the Western Conference with four wins from eight, thanks to a run of three wins in their last four.

Their 3-1 victory in Vancouver was a real statement by this team, who hope to get back into title contention.

3. Philadelphia Union

W3 D4 L0, 3rd Eastern Conference

The only unbeaten team remaining in MLS is the Union, who do have a few too many draws to their name.

However, three wins from four games is a great recent record, while they fought back from 2-0 down against Atlanta United in their last game to salvage a point.

4. New York Red Bulls

W4 D3 L1, 2nd Eastern Conference

The Red Bulls are level on points with Inter Miami, behind by a single goal despite having played one game fewer.

They’re unbeaten in four, but they may rue points dropped in draws at Orlando City and against Chicago Fire. However, their start is encouraging and they look like a real threat at this early stage.

5. Inter Miami

W4 D3 L2, 1st Eastern Conference

Inter Miami were without a win in five games across all competitions before their 3-2 win at Sporting KC at the weekend. The return of Lionel Messi boosted them and they lead the way in the East, but their rivals are catching up.

6. Vancouver Whitecaps

W4 D1 L2, 2nd Western Conference

Vancouver responded to their first win of the season with home victories over Portland Timbers and Toronto, showing this is a team who are going to be competitive.

While defeat to LA Galaxy knocked them off the top of the Western Conference, they have to be happy with their start.

7. Colorado Rapids

W3 D3 L2, 5th Western Conference

The Rapids have made a big jump thanks to some standout results, which have lifted them into fifth in the West. A 3-2 victory over LAFC was eye-catching, as was their late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw at Inter Miami.

They cruised to a 3-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes last time out and with one defeat in seven, they look impressive.

8. Real Salt Lake

W3 D3 L2, 4th Western Conference

Unbeaten in four, there’s reason for optimism for Real Salt Lake right now. They’ve looked good going forward all season, but their clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with Columbus Crew was also encouraging.

They’re on course to better last season’s finish right now, and they could move even higher if they get their offense running alongside a stronger defense.

9. Columbus Crew

W3 D4 L1, 4th Eastern Conference

The MLS Cup winners have their focus split by the Champions Cup right now, which could help to explain a four-game winless run in the league.

However, they’ve drawn each of their last four and they’ve suffered only one defeat all season, so the defending champions remain a side to fear.

10. Charlotte FC

W3 D2 L3, 7th Eastern Conference

A win, draw and loss across the last three games sums up this Charlotte side, who are struggling to find their rhythm.

That run saw them concede a last-minute equaliser to Cincinnati, lose to the East’s bottom team and take the lead three times in a 3-2 win over Toronto.

11. LAFC

W3 D2 L3, 6th Western Conference

LAFC lack consistency, but on their day they look fantastic. Home victories over LA Galaxy and Nashville – who they hammered 5-0 – show what this team is capable of.

However, they’ve won twice in their last seven and points-wise they’re closer to 11th than first.

12. Atlanta United

W3 D2 L2, 6th Eastern Conference

Atlanta have continued to look solid, having picked up a point from each of its meetings with Philadelphia Union and New York City FC in the last two games.

However, United continue to show little sign of kicking on and remain in the middle of the pack in the East.

13. FC Cincinnati

W3 D3 L2, 5th Eastern Conference

Cincinnati have suffered a similar fall in the Eastern Conference, drawing at Charlotte before losing to both New York Red Bulls and Montreal to drop from the top of the East.

They’re already out of the Concacaf Champions Cup too, so their season is at risk of unravelling.

14. Minnesota United

W3 D2 L2, 7th Western Conference

Minnesota United led our Power Rankings at one point thanks to some eye-catching wins, but they’ve had a dramatic fall down the standings in the West. They’re winless in three games, earning a single point in that run.

A 2-1 home defeat to the Houston Dynamo has pushed them down to seventh in the standings.

15. CF Montreal

W3 D1 L3, 8th Eastern Conference

Montreal made a bright start to get into the playoff spots in the East, but things have gone sour of late. A three-game losing streak sent them tumbling down the standings, before getting back on track with their 2-1 win over Cincinnati at the weekend.