Tuesday, August 17

Pro Rankings: MLS Clubs Rising

With the Mexican Primera having wrapped up its first month of action, a clear delineation between the elite sides and the rest of the league seems to be developing, allowing a number of Major League Soccer sides to slide up the rankings. With the CONCACAF Champions League kicking off the group stage, 16 clubs could make big swings on the list in the coming weeks.

FC Dallas, with only two losses in 19 outings, reached the fourth spot with a 3-1 win over DC United and Real Salt Lake (11-4-6) is in at number six with league-leading Los Angeles two spots behind them and New York rounding out the Top 10.

The biggest mover in the top quarter of the list, however, was Alajuelense. The Costa Rican side won a battle of unbeaten clubs against Barrio Mexico, which moved up as well given their narrow 2-1 defeat on the road against a perennial power, to reach the 13th spot from 23rd. Fellow Costa Rican side Herediano also made a big move up the list from 67 to 53 with a 3-1-0 record. Previously unranked Santos de Guapiles (2-1-1) entered the list at 64 by stunning powerhouse and Champions League club Saprissa 2-0.

Puerto Rico climbed ahead of Austin with a 2-0 victory over the then league leaders. Other big movers in USSF Division-2 were Tampa Bay, which posted a 1-1 draw in Puerto Rico and 3-3 draw in Miami, and Crystal Palace Baltimore, which pulled themselves off the edge with an upset win over Carolina.

Opening their season late midweek to cap the opening round of Honduran action, Deportes Savio debuted on the list at 65 after a 1-1 road draw against Champions League side Marathon and a 2-1 win against Vida.

Deportes Savio and Santos de Guapiles were among six clubs moving into the top 100, knocking out Perez Zeledon (CRC), Vida (HON), Suchitepequez (GUA), Atletico Balboa (SLV), Real Maryland Monarchs (USL2) and Harrisburg City Islanders (USL2).

CONCACAF Pro Club Power Rankings
 
(Champions League - Group Stage clubs in yellow)
 
Rank . [Previous] … Club (League) … League Record W-L-D … Notes
 
1 . [1] … Santos Laguna (MEX) … 4-0-0 … 1-0 W v Jaguares
 
2 . [2] … Monterrey (MEX) … 3-0-1 … 5-2 W v Pumas

3 . [4] … Cruz Azul (MEX) … 3-1-0 … 4-1 W v Pachuca

4 . [6] … FC Dallas (MLS) … 8-2-9 … 3-1 W @ DC

5 . [5] … Puebla (MEX) … 2-0-2 … 1-1 D v Atlante

6 . [9] … Real Salt Lake (MLS) … 11-4-6 … 1-1 D @ Philadelphia, 2-0 W v Columbus

7 . [3] … Morelia (MEX) … 2-1-0 … 0-1 L @ San Luis

8 . [12] … Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) … 13-3-4 … 1-0 W @ New York

9 . [7] … Chivas Guadalajara (MEX) … 1-0-1 … Idle

10 . [10] … New York Red Bulls (MLS) … 9-7-4 … 1-0 W v Toronto, 0-1 L v Los Angeles

11 . [8] … Pumas UNAM (MEX) … 2-2-0 … 2-5 L @ Monterrey

12 . [17] … Tigres UANL (MEX) … 1-1-2 … 1-1 D @ Toluca

13 . [23] … Alajuelense (CRC) … 3-0-1 … 2-1 W v Barrio Mexico

14 . [13] … Toronto FC (MLS) … 7-7-5 … 0-1 L @ New York

15 . [14] … Pachuca (MEX) … 1-2-1 … 1-4 L @ Cruz Azul

16 . [11] … Toluca (MEX) … 0-1-3 … 1-1 D v Tigres

17 . [15] … Columbus Crew (MLS) … 11-5-4 … 0-2 L @ Real Salt Lake

18 . [16] … America (MEX) … 1-1-2 … 1-1 D v Atlas

19 . [18] … Colorado Rapids (MLS) … 7-5-7 … 1-1 D @ Philadelphia

20 . [21] … Jaguares Chiapas (MEX) … 0-2-2 … 0-1 L @ Santos Laguna

21 . [32] … San Luis (MEX) … 1-2-1 … 1-0 W v Morelia

22 . [24] … Necaxa (MEX) … 1-1-2 … 1-1 D v Queretaro

23 . [19] … Queretaro (MEX) … 2-1-1 … 1-1 D @ Necaxa

24 . [20] … Seattle Sounders (MLS) … 8-8-5 … 0-0 D @ Chivas USA

25 . [22] … Olimpia (HON) … 1-0-1 … 1-1 D @ Victoria

26 . [25] … Chicago Fire (MLS) … 5-5-6 … Idle

27 . [26] … San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) … 7-6-5 … 1-0 W v Kansas City

28 . [30] … Puerto Rico Islanders (USSFD2) … 7-7-7 … 1-1 D v Tampa Bay, 2-0 W v Austin

29 . [27] … Motagua (HON) … 0-1-1 … 2-2 D v Hispano

30 . [31] … New England Revolution (MLS) … 6-9-3 … 1-0 W v Houston

31 . [35] … Chivas USA (MLS) … 5-10-4 … 0-0 D v Seattle

32 . [29] … Austin Aztex (USSFD2) … 12-3-5 … 0-2 L @ Puerto Rico

33 . [37] … Atlas (MEX) … 0-3-1 … 1-1 D @ America

34 . [33] … Vancouver Whitecaps (USSFD2) … 9-3-11 … 1-0 W @ Minnesota

35 . [38] … Philadelphia Union (MLS) … 4-10-5 … 1-1 D v Real Salt Lake, 1-1 D v Colorado

36 . [34] … Atlante (MEX) … 0-3-1 … 1-1 D @ Puebla

37 . [28] … Houston Dynamo (MLS) … 5-10-5 … 0-1 L @ New England

38 . [36] … Estudiantes Tecos (MEX) … 0-3-0 … Idle

39 . [39] … Platense (HON) … 1-0-1 … 2-2 D v Marathon

40 . [41] … Tauro (PAN) … 1-0-2 … 2-0 W @ Atletico Veraguense

41 . [42] … Isidro Metapan (SLV) … 2-0-1 … 4-3 W v Atletico Marte

42 . [48] … Marquense (GUA) … 3-1-0 … 1-0 W v Mictlan

43 . [54] … Comunicaciones (GUA) … 2-0-2 … 3-2 W @ Penarol La Mesilla

44 . [58] … Barrio Mexico (CRC) … 3-1-0 … 1-2 L @ Alajuelense

45 . [43] … Marathon (HON) … 0-0-2 … 1-1 D v Deportes Savio, 2-2 D @ Platense

46 . [46] … Joe Public (TRI) … 5-1-4 F …

47 . [40] … Kansas City Wizards (MLS) … 5-9-5 … 0-1 L @ San Jose

48 . [44] … Rochester Rhinos (USSFD2) … 11-5-6 … 2-1 W v Montreal

49 . [50] … Portland Timbers (USSFD2) … 8-7-8 … 2-2 D v Minnesota, 1-0 W @ St Louis

50 . [52] … Charleston Battery (USL2) … 11-4-5 … 3-0 W v Charlotte

51 . [65] … Aguila (SLV) … 2-0-1 … 2-1 W @ Firpo

52 . [55] … Necaxa (HON) … 2-0-0 … 2-1 W @ Real Espana

53 . [67] … Herediano (CRC) … 3-1-0 … 2-1 W @ Limon

54 . [69] … Aribe Unido (PAN) … 2-0-1 … 1-0 W v Chepo

55 . [59] … Brujas (CRC) … 2-2-0 … 2-0 W @ Perez Zeledon

56 . [66] … Municipal (GUA) … 2-1-1 … 3-1 W v Suchitepequez

57 . [73] … San Carlos (CRC) … 2-1-0 … 2-1 W v Puntarenas

58 . [56] … Defence Force (TRI) … 10-0-0 F …

59 . [45] … Carolina RailHawks (USSFD2) … 7-6-7 … 1-2 L @ Baltimore

60 . [51] … Montreal Impact (USSFD2) … 6-10-7 … 1-2 L @ Rochester

61 . [47] … Firpo (SLV) … 1-1-1 … 1-2 L v Aguila

62 . [83] … Alianza (SLV) … 1-0-2 … 4-0 W v FAS

63 . [86] … Xinabajul (GUA) … 2-2-0 … 2-1 W @ Juventud Retalteca

64 . [NR] … Santos de Guapiles (CRC) … 2-1-1 … 2-0 W v Saprissa

65 . [NR] … Deportes Savio (HON) … 1-0-1 … 1-1 D @ Marathon, 2-1 W v Vida

66 . [61] … San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) … 4-3-3 F …

67 . [85] … Heredia (GUA) … 2-1-1 … 2-1 W v Universidad San Carlos

68 . [57] … Juventud Retalteca (GUA) … 2-1-1 … 1-2 L v Xinabajul

69 . [62] … Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) … 1-2-1 … 0-2 L @ Santos de Guapiles

70 . [63] … Richmond Kickers (USL2) … 9-5-6 … 1-1 D v Real Maryland

71 . [64] … Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL2) … 7-5-8 … 1-1 D @ Harrisburg

72 . [68] … Mictlan (GUA) … 2-1-1 … 0-1 L @ Marquense

73 . [78] … Malacateco (GUA) … 2-2-0 … 1-0 W v Xelaju

74 . [53] … Xelaju (GUA) … 2-2-0 … 0-1 L @ Malacateco

75 . [87] … Vista Hermosa (SLV) … 1-1-1 … 1-0 W v Universidad de El Salvador

76 . [91] … Chorrillo (PAN) … 1-1-1 … 1-0 W @ Sporting San Miguelito

77 . [71] … Real Espana (HON) … 1-1-0 … 1-2 L v Necaxa

78 . [74] … Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) … 1-1-1 … 0-1 L v Chorrillo

79 . [60] … Puntarenas (CRC) … 1-3-0 … 1-2 L @ San Carlos

80 . [75] … Penarol La Mesilla (GUA) … 0-3-1 … 2-3 L v Cominicaciones

81 . [79] … DC United (MLS) … 3-13-3 … 1-3 L v Dallas

82 . [95] … Tampa Bay Rowdies (USSFD2) … 6-8-8 … 1-1 D @ Puerto Rico, 3-3 D @ Miami

83 . [76] … Universidad San Carlos (GUA) … 1-3-0 … 1-2 L @ Heredia

84 . [77] … AC St Louis (USSFD2) … 5-11-6 … 0-1 L v Portland

85 . [49] … FAS (SLV) … 0-2-1 … 0-4 L @ Alianza

86 . [NR] … Universidad de Costa Rica (CRC) … 1-3-0 … 3-0 W v Cartagines

87 . [80] … Chepo (PAN) … 1-1-1 … 0-1 L @ Arabe Unido

88 . [81] … W Connection (TRI) … 5-3-2 F …

89 . [82] … Ma Pau (TRI) … 4-1-5 F …

90 . [NR] … Atletico Marte (SLV) … 1-1-1 … 3-4 L @ Isidro Metapan

91 . [96] … Crystal Palace Baltimore (USSFD2) … 6-10-6 … 2-1 W v Carolina

92 . [72] … Cartagines (CRC) … 1-2-0 … 0-3 L @ Universidad de Costa Rica

93 . [NR] … Hispano (HON) … 0-1-1 … 2-2 D v Motagua

94 . [NR] … Plaza Amador (PAN) … 1-1-1 … 2-2 D @ San Francisco

95 . [84] … Miami FC Blues (USSFD2) … 3-11-8 … 3-3 D v Tampa Bay

96 . [94] … NSC Minnesota (USSFD2) … 7-10-7 … 2-2 D @ Portland, 0-1 L v Vancouver

97 . [90] … San Francisco (PAN) … 0-1-2 … 2-2 D v Plaza Amador

98 . [70] … Charlotte Eagles (USL2) … 5-8-7 … 0-3 L @ Charleston

99 . [88] … Atletico Veraguense (PAN) … 1-2-0 … 0-2 L v Tauro

100 . [89] … Universidad de El Salvador (SLV) … 1-2-0 … 0-1 L @ Vista Hermosa

2 comments:

  1. great post. i agree that the MLS is on the rise. the pace of mls teams is still to fast IMO, but it seems like teams are playing much better together.. are you coming up with these rankings or getting them from somewhere?

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  2. The rankings are mine. The MLS teams are looking better. Last night for instance, Toronto looked a lot better. They kind of reminded me of Montreal's CCL run where they attacked the slow build-up style of the Mexican/C.American clubs with a lot of pressure, which they arent used to. Problem is that they couldn't sustain that south of Rio Grande. It was a big three points though when I think most would have expected, at most, one.

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