MLS Power Rankings, Week 28: Columbus Crew SC rising as Sporting KC, Toronto FC tumble down table

BIGGEST MOVERS: Columbus, Orlando City +4 spots  | Sporting, Toronto -3 spots

1

LAST WEEK: 1

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 17

They made it hard on themselves, but returned to their winning ways. The week ahead, however, poses a difficult challenge: Back-to-back road games on turf, with the second after a cross-country flight on short rest. Ask Sporting how that kind of thing usually works out...

Latest result: Won vs. Chicago, 3-2

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

Next MLS match: Wednesday at New England; Sunday at Portland (ESPN)

2

LAST WEEK: 3

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11

They continue to play mostly effective but mostly ugly soccer without Mauro Diaz. It's been enough to push them to the top of the table on PPG, but we miss the Magic Little Unicorn.

Latest result: Won vs. NYCFC, 2-1

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

Next MLS match: Friday at Sporting KC (Unimas; UDN)

3

LAST WEEK: 4

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11

The league's youngest team is also arguably the deepest. Rookies Tim Parker and Kianz Froese were difference-makers, and Cristian Techera has proved to be one of the league's best mid-season signings.

Latest result: Won vs. Colorado, 2-0

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

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Seattle (TSN)

4

LAST WEEK: 2

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11

Their midfield spacing recently has been weird, with Juninho pushed wider and higher to make room for Steven Gerrard. The resulting attack struggles to generate danger in possession: no goals in nearly 200 minutes.

Latest result: Drew vs. Montreal, 0-0

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

Next MLS match: Saturday at Real Salt Lake

5

LAST WEEK: 7

HIGH: 2 | LOW: 20

They were far from perfect, but are expert at capitalizing on the foolish mistakes of others. And everything Lee Nguyen touches turns to gold these days.

Latest result: Won at Toronto, 3-1

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

Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. New York Red Bulls; Saturday at Montreal Impact

6

LAST WEEK: 10

HIGH: 4 | LOW: 15

Followed up an embarrassing loss with a solid if unspectacular road win, which has been their pattern over the last three months. Columbus can still be frustratingly soft (SEE: The goal they gave up to the Union), but they mostly get results.

Latest result: Won at Philadelphia, 2-1

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

Next MLS match: Saturday at D.C. United

7

LAST WEEK: 8

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 11

Vintage D.C., with an uninspiring 85 minutes capped off by a late set piece and a precious road point. Fabian Espindola's 3g/6a in 900 minutes evidence why United have to keep him healthy if they're to compete against the East's best.

Latest result: Drew at Colorado, 1-1

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

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Columbus Crew SC

8

LAST WEEK: 5

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14

Ran out of gas in the second half of that brutal back-to-back, and their last five is ... discouraging, to put it mildly. Friday's game isn't a must-win, but it's close.

Latest result: Drew at Portland, 0-0; Lost at Orlando City, 3-1

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

Next MLS match: Friday vs. FC Dallas (Unimas; UDN)

9

LAST WEEK: 6

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14

Like everyone else, we're going to harp on them still not knowing their best back four. And, frankly, we're not sure they know their best midfield, either. However they line up, Toronto have to do a better job of shielding the back line than did the group this weekend.

Latest result: Lost vs. New England, 3-1

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

Next MLS match: Wednesday at NYCFC (ESPN2); Saturday vs. Colorado

10

LAST WEEK: 9

HIGH: 1 | LOW: 14

Andreas Ivanschitz's debut was promising, but the Roman Torres injury (done for the year) made that an expensive road point. Maybe time to move Brad Evans – who also left the San Jose game early – back to the back?

Latest result: Drew at San Jose, 1-1

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

Next MLS match: Saturday at Vancouver (TSN)

11

LAST WEEK: 11

HIGH: 3 | LOW: 16

Did everything right against Sporting – except score. They should be rested and in good shape to take advantage of a potentially weary RBNY on Sunday. 

Latest result: Drew vs. Sporting KC, 0-0

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

Next MLS match: Sunday vs. New York Red Bulls (ESPN)

12

LAST WEEK: 12

HIGH: 8 | LOW: 18

They're not quite the same without Quincy Amarikwa buzzing around at full tilt. But the emergency move of Fatai Alashe to central defense paid dividends, and appears to be a good long-term look.

Latest result: Drew vs. Seattle, 1-1

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

Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Montreal; Saturday at NYCFC

13

LAST WEEK: 13

HIGH: 8 | LOW: 20

Huge point in LA, and perhaps a statement as well? Nobody outside of the Impact locker room expected them to hold the Galaxy attack in check without Laurent Ciman.

Latest result: Drew at LA Galaxy, 0-0

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

Next MLS match: Wednesday at San Jose; Saturday vs. New England

14

LAST WEEK: 15

HIGH: 5| LOW: 17

The Power Rankings Politburo wants Javier Morales' secrets on graceful ageing. He's now hit double-digit assists in three straight seasons, something only one other player has done since the rule change in 2003, and we feel like we'll still be writing about him in 2020. 

Latest result: Won at Houston, 3-1

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

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. LA Galaxy

15

LAST WEEK: 14

HIGH: 10 | LOW: 18

Dropped their second winnable game in three outings. Yes, Dynamo fans, that is the difference between a spot above the red line and your team's current residence below it.

Latest result: Lost vs. RSL, 3-1

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

Next MLS match: Sunday at Philadelphia (FS1; FOX Deportes)

16

LAST WEEK: 20

HIGH: 9 | LOW: 20

Brek Shea made a difference, and over the course of the season, it's clear that he makes a difference. It's probably too late for 2015, but getting Shea and Bryan Rochez rolling would be a useful way to utilize the final six weeks.

Latest result: Won vs. Sporting KC, 3-1

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

Next MLS match: Saturday at Chicago

17

LAST WEEK: 17

HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20

Twice this week, Colorado were within 20 minutes of a great result. Twice this week, it got away from them. In each outing, youthful vigor (Rivero, Techera, Birnbaum) bested veteran knowhow.

Latest result: Lost at Vancouver, 2-0; Drew vs. D.C. United, 1-1

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

Next MLS match: Saturday at Toronto FC

18

LAST WEEK: 16

HIGH: 15 | LOW: 20

Philadelphia fought, and they created a bunch of second-half chances. But it's hard to keep digging out of the same hole every week

Latest result: Lost vs. Columbus, 2-1

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

Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Houston (FS1; FOX Deportes)

19

LAST WEEK: 19

HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20

Patrick Mullins, Kwadwo Poku, Tommy McNamara, Angelino, Shay Facey, Mix Diskerud and Khiry Shelton is a nice young core. It's time for those first three guys to be fulltime starters.

Latest result: Lost at FC Dallas, 2-1

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

Next MLS match: Wednesday vs. Toronto FC (ESPN2; ESPN Deportes; TSN); Saturday vs. San Jose

20

LAST WEEK: 18

HIGH: 11 | LOW: 20

It often seems Chicago's strategy is "Boot it long for David!" – perhaps a misuse of their midfield talent, which is both technically adept and tactically clever.

Latest result: Lost at New York, 3-2

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

Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Orlando City

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