MLS Power Rankings, Week 18: After knocking off Red Bulls, Columbus Crew SC move up the list

BIGGEST MOVERS: Columbus & NYCFC +5 spots  |  Montreal & Vancouver -4 spots

1

LAST: 1

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11

From June 3 to July 3, D.C. had nine games (six away from home) across all competitions and went 4-4-1. They're not pretty, and they're not great, but they were born to grind.

Latest results: Lost at Seattle, 1-0

Last five results: L-W-W-D-L

Next MLS match: July 18 at Dallas

2

LAST: 3

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14

The league's best on points per game and goal differential should only get better once the transfer window opens. Add in the improving health of the back line, and Sporting will probably stay near the top of these rankings for the rest of 2015.

Latest result: Bye week

Last five results: D-W-W-L-W

Next MLS match: Sunday at Vancouver

3

LAST: 4

HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16

They're 5-0-1 in their last six home games with 10 goals scored and just one conceded. Three of the next four are on the road, however, so we'll see if the Timbers fall back to earth.

Latest result: Won vs. San Jose, 1-0

Last five results: W-W-L-W-W

Next MLS match: Saturday at Philadelphia

4

LAST: 6

HIGH: 2 | LOW: 11

What if Sebastian Lletget is the most influential midseason addition the Galaxy make?

Latest result: Won vs. Toronto, 4-0

Last five results: D-W-W-L-W

Next MLS match: July 17 vs. San Jose

5

LAST: 5

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 5

A late goal stops the bleeding for now. Seattle are obviously not the same team without Oba, Deuce, Evans and Pappa, but getting Ozzie Alonso back covers up a lot of deficiencies.

Latest result: Won vs. D.C. United, 1-0

Last five results: W-L-L-L-W

Next MLS match: Saturday at Chicago

6

LAST: 2

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11

Weathered their five-game road odyssey with aplomb, but that was a point dropped in Colorado.

Latest result: Lost at Colorado, 2-1

Last five results: L-W-W-W-L

Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Sporting KC

7

LAST: 9

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11

And … they're back. We think, anyway – it's tough to take too much from the way they dismantled a battered and short-handed New England team.

Latest result: Won vs. New England, 3-0

Last five results: D-L-D-W-W

Next MLS match: Saturday at Orlando City

8

LAST: 7

HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16

Unsurprisingly, they struggled in LA. Surprisingly, it was veteran central defender Damien Perquis who looked most out of his depth. TFC have to regroup ahead of Sunday's journey to face a NYCFC team that kicked pieces out of them last time.

Latest result: Lost at LA, 4-0

Last five results: W-L-W-D-L

Next MLS match: Sunday at NYCFC (ESPN/TSN)

9

LAST: 14

HIGH: 4 | LOW: 15

Does going back on the road for the next two mean going back to bad defense and frustrating losses? Or can Wil Trapp patch the hole in the boat?

Latest result: Won vs. New York, 2-1

Last five results: L-D-W-D-W

Next MLS match: Saturday at Montreal

10

LAST: 10

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 17

Had what seemed to be at least one legitimate gripe at MAPFRE Stadium. In general they've kept up the "play well, don't score a ton" ethos that's been their calling card – for good and for bad – all season.

Latest result: Lost at Columbus, 2-1

Last five results: L-L-W-W-L

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. New England

11

LAST: 8

HIGH: 8 | LOW: 18

Getting Matías Pérez García and Sanna Nyassi back seems of utmost importance after that punchless showing in Portland.

Latest result: Lost at Portland, 1-0

Last five results: L-D-W-W-L

Next MLS match: Friday vs. Houston (UniMás)

12

LAST: 11

HIGH: 9 | LOW: 17

A point on the road anywhere in MLS is a good result. A point at altitude when playing a man down for 45 minutes? That was very, very well done from OCSC.

Latest result: Drew at RSL, 1-1

Last five results: W-W-L-W-D

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Dallas

13

LAST: 18

HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20

The Power Rankings Politburo doesn't know what to make of this team. Yes, they've won four out of five, but two of those were against Montreal and one against Philly. Are they actually good, or do they just match up well against those particular teams?

Latest result: Won at Montreal, 2-1

Last five results: W-W-W-L-W

Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Toronto (ESPN/TSN)

14

LAST: 15

HIGH: 5 | LOW: 16

Sebastian Jaime is scoring and Aaron Maund is looking like a long-term solution in central defense, but RSL can't keep dropping points if they're going to climb back into the playoff picture.

Latest result: Drew vs. Orlando City, 1-1

Last five results: D-W-L-D-D

Next MLS match: Saturday at Colorado

15

LAST: 13

HIGH: 2 | LOW: 16

The Revs have now taken just seven of the last 33 points on offer. Expect deals to happen as soon as the trade/transfer window opens on July 8.

Latest result: Lost at Dallas, 3-0

Last five results: W-L-L-L-L

Next MLS match: Saturday at New York

16

LAST: 12

HIGH: 9 | LOW: 20

Unacceptable loss for a team with playoff hopes. Yeah, the Impact have games in hand – but those only matter if you do what you're supposed to with them.

Latest result: Lost vs. NYCFC, 2-1

Last five results: L-W-L-D-L

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Columbus

17

LAST: 17

HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20

Had a huge midweek Open Cup win over D.C. and then the weekend off to celebrate it. When they come back, will C.J. Sapong still have his goalscoring form? He's kept them afloat and badly needs some help.

Latest result: Bye week

Last five results: W-L-L-W-D

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Portland

18

LAST: 16

HIGH: 10 | LOW: 18

They've scored multiple goals just once in the last six games. It's pretty clear that as Giles Barnes goes, so goes their attack.

Latest result: Drew vs. Chicago, 1-1

Last five results: D-W-L-L-D

Next MLS match: Friday at San Jose (UniMás)

19

LAST: 20

HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20

Colorado are 2-0 against the 'Caps and 1-6-9 against everybody else. MLS is weird.

Latest result: Won vs. Vancouver, 2-1

Last five results: D-D-L-L-W

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. RSL

20

LAST: 19

HIGH: 11 | LOW: 20

Chicago fans, stop me if you've heard this one before: This team isn't getting enough production out of their DP striker. Kennedy Igboananike's movement and passing are excellent, and he works hard, but two goals in 14 games says it all.

Latest result: Drew at Houston, 1-1

Last five results: L-L-L-L-D

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Seattle

Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks are written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@mlsanalyst).