MLS Power Rankings, Week 9: Seattle Sounders surge to No. 1 after thrashing New York City FC

Note: Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. The Power Rankings are voted on by the editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com, and remarks are written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle. All times Eastern.

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Last: 2

Their 18-pass build-up to the game's final goal was a sight to behold. Just as important is the fact that the three new starters in defense – Dylan Remick, Brad Evans and Tyrone Mears – all look to be on the same page.

• Last Week: Won at NYCFC, 3-1
• Last Five: W-L-W-W-W
• This Week: Saturday at Columbus (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 6

It felt a bit at the end like the Revs were hanging on for dear life, but once again they got their victory. If you knock off the league's last unbeaten team, you jump up in the Power Rankings.

• Last Week: Won vs. New York, 2-1
• Last Five: W-D-W-W-W
• This Week: Friday at Orlando City (8 pm; UDN/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 1

Midfield sloppiness is problematic, but the big worry is RBNY's finishing. They left points on the table in both games, and have now won just once in their last five.

• Last Week: Drew vs. Colorado, 1-1; Lost at New England, 2-1
• Last Five: D-W-D-D-L
• This Week: Sunday vs. NYCFC (7 pm; FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO)

Last: 7

They're so well-drilled defensively that they're constantly able to force you into the lower-percentage play. It's not fancy, but it's clearly the right method for this cast.

• Last Week: Won vs. Columbus, 2-0
• Last Five: W-D-D-W-W
• This Week: Saturday vs. Sporting KC (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 8

Treated the game like a true derby, and Houston paid the price. With Mauro Diaz back and clicking, this team is as scary in attack as any in the league.

• Last Week: Won at Houston, 4-1
• Last Five: L-L-W-D-W
• This Week: Saturday vs. LA (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last:: 3

Only one win in their last five, and only two goals in their last four. Vancouver need to start generating good chances on the break again.

• Last Week: Drew at Portland, 0-0
• Last Five: D-L-W-L-D
• This Week: Saturday vs. Philadelphia (7 pm; TSN2/MLS LIVE)

Last: 4

It's nice to be able to bring in a guy like Alan Gordon off the bench, but LA clearly miss Robbie Keane (duh) and Jose Villarreal (!!!). Their best attacking moments this season have centered around those two.

• Last Week: Drew vs. Colorado, 1-1
• Last Five: L-W-W-D-D
• This Week: Wednesday at RSL (9:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday at Dallas (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 5

Got a lesson in pragmatism from United. No matter how pretty you are – and Columbus are pretty as hell – you can't allow chances on the break or set pieces. That loses you games against a good team.

• Last Week: Lost at D.C. United, 2-0
• Last Five: D-D-W-W-L
• This Week: Saturday vs. Seattle (7:30 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 9

Played perhaps their best game of the season in that win over a good Chicago squad, and Soni Mustivar's addition to the lineup bodes well. The finishing, however, has moved from "early slump" to "genuine concern."

• Last Week: Won vs. Chicago, 1-0
• Last Five: W-D-L-D-W
• This Week: Saturday at D.C. United (7 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 14

Ended their seven-game odyssey with nine points, which is rougly the same road PPG that D.C. had last year when they won the East. We're not predicting that for TFC, but this is a playoff team.

• Last Week: Won at Philadelphia, 1-0
• Last Five: L-L-L-W-W
• This Week: Saturday vs. Houston (5 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN)

Last: 11

Stop me if you've heard this before: Finishing is becoming a major worry. They also badly missed the touch of class Mikey Stephens brings to central midfield as a true No. 8.

• Last Week: Lost at Sporting KC, 1-0
• Last Five: L-W-W-W-L
• This Week: Saturday vs. RSL (3 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 13

Something something finishing. Though really, the big story is that Diego Valeri is back and looked pretty healthy running around the field. 

• Last Week: Drew vs. Vancouver, 0-0
• Last Five: W-L-W-L-D
• This Week: Saturday at Montreal (4 pm; TSN/MLS LIVE)

Last: 10

Um, finishing? RSL haven't scored a goal from the run of play since March, so that's an issue. Bigger issue: they didn't register a shot on goal at home last Friday.

• Last Week: Drew vs. San Jose, 1-1
• Last Five: W-D-L-L-D
• This Week: Wednesday vs. LA (9:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Saturday at Chicago (3 pm; MLS LIVE)

Last: 16

San Jose are just above the red line, despite spending most of the first two months of the season in various stages of tactical and formational experimentation.

• Last Week: Drew at RSL, 1-1
• Last Five: L-L-W-L-D
• This Week: Tuesday at Houston (8:30 pm; MLS LIVE); Friday at Colorado (10 pm; UDN/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 17

Blew two leads, but the truth is that taking two points out of a four-day, cross-country road trip is a job well done. That said, the Rapids are starting to remind us of last year's Fire with all these draws.

• Last Week: Drew at NY, 1-1; Drew at LA, 1-1
• Last Five: W-L-D-D-D
• This Week: Friday vs. San Jose (10 pm; UDN/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 15

Didn't lose a game, but lost a starter. Get well, Kevin Molino.

• Last Week: OFF
• Last Five: D-L-W-L-L
• This Week: Friday vs. New England (8 pm; UDN/UnivisionDeportes.com)

Last: 12

They've conceded eight goals in their last 180 minutes, and won just once in their last eight games. Things are not good.

• Last Week: Lost vs. Dallas, 4-1
• Last Five: L-W-D-D-L
• This Week: Tuesday vs. San Jose (8:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE); Sunday at Toronto (5 pm; ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN)

Last: 19

The key now will be to recover emotionally after that gut-wrenching final half of CCL action. Montreal certainly have the talent to compete, but talent isn't always enough.

• Last Week: OFF
• Last Four: L-D-D-L
• This Week: Saturday vs. Portland (4 pm; TSN/MLS LIVE)

Last: 18

As we all suspected, Mehdi Ballouchy has emerged as this team's go-to goalscorer.

• Last Week: Loss vs. Seattle, 3-1
• Last Five: L-D-L-L-L
• This Week: Saturday at New York (7 pm; FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO)

Last: 20

With nearly one-third of the season gone, Philly have just one win. That's how you find yourself at the bottom of the Power Rankings.

• Last Week: Loss vs. Toronto, 1-0
• Last Five: W-D-L-L-L
• This Week: Saturday at Vancouver (7 pm; TSN2/MLS LIVE)