MLS Power Rankings: Miami find their feet with Decision Day coming up

It’s Monday and another weekend of action is in the books. With Decision Day coming up next week, it’s time for the latest edition of ESPN’s MLS Power Rankings to see which teams are in a good or bad spot to qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs.

Previous ranking: 1

While seeking history on a rainy night in Tennessee, Nashville fell behind by two goals, had multiple goals called off, but battled back to force two own goals and clinch a 3-2 win against Red Bull New York with stoppage-time headed goal from Sam Surridge. The Supporters’ Shield winners are level with Miami’s points record, but could break it with just a point from their final game.

Previous ranking: 2

Miami reclaimed second place in the Eastern Conference with a second-half rally against the Revs to win 2-1, ignited by the guy still leading the Golden Boot race: Lionel Messi. After a headed assist to Germán Berterame to level the score, Messi scored his 26th goal of the year after finagling past multiple defenders then sending a low left-footed strike past Matt Turner.

Previous ranking: 4

The Revs’ four-game win streak came to a halt against the Herons, as Messi proved the difference maker once more assisting and scoring in a come-from-behind win for Miami. With that, New England drops to third place in the Eastern Conference. Silver lining? Dániel Gazdag is now on a two-game scoring streak.

Previous ranking: 3

STL had the firepower in the attacking third to come away with all three points against San Diego. But thanks in part to Pablo Sisniega’s six saves and Anders Dreyer’s moment of quality, they went home with a 1-0 defeat instead. The playoffs were already locked up but home-field advantage isn’t as they head into the final weekend.

Previous ranking: 5

After going scoreless in six games, Robert Lewandowski came off the bench to make the difference in Colorado, providing the go-ahead goal 10 minutes after subbing on, then setting up Puso Dithejane for the 4-2 win.

play

Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire FC – Game Highlights

Previous ranking: 7

The Whitecaps showed their quality in a comprehensive 5-1 dismantling of Seattle, highlighted by a Brian White brace that started in the 56th minute. After a 4-1 win over San Diego in midweek and 29th-place Montréal up next, the Western Conference’s first-place side have got some momentum ahead of the postseason.

Previous ranking: 6

After drawing Nashville 0-0 in the midweek, Philly’s 1-0 loss to Cincinnati is their second in three games. They’ll be in the postseason, but they may have a tough matchup when it comes.

Previous ranking: 9

With the Golden Boot technically still in reach, Petar Musa (who scored 22 goals this season) missed his first penalty in six this season in the 97th minute. Stefan Cleveland’s late-game save kept the Toros from three points in a 1-1 draw as they head into the final weekend looking to secure second place in the Western Conference.

Previous ranking: 8

After losing 3-1 to Minnesota, LAFC are winless in three (two draws) ahead of a Decision Day battle with the Sounders. With their playoff place secure, they’re competing for a better finish in the standings, but will fall short of their top-three finish in the Western Conference in the last four seasons.

Previous ranking: 13

Kristijan Kahlina, whose save percentage (75.9%) is second only to first-place Nashville’s Brian Schwake (77.7%), stopped eight against Orlando in a match that ended 4-0 in Charlotte’s favor, despite both teams firing off the same number of shots (and nearly the same on target, though Charlotte had higher quality opportunities).

Previous ranking: 11

After losing 4-0 to mid-table side Charlotte, Orlando picked up their first defeat in six games but still clinched their playoff spot based on other results. They’re in the final wild card spot ahead of a final test against the Revs.

Previous ranking: 15

The Quakes took 17 minutes to score twice against RSL, and that was enough to secure three points in a 2-1 win. That’s their first win in six (four draws, one loss) as they look to secure their third-place spot in the Western Conference.

Previous ranking: 10

In a 5-1 loss to Vancouver, Jordan Morris’ brief light of life in the second half was overshadowed by the Whitecaps’ rapid response in a match characterized by goalkeeper Andy Thomas looking painfully skyward for help from the scoreline. After losing to Houston in midweek, the Sounders have three defeats and no wins from their last five games. They play LAFC on the final day while sitting one place short of the wild card spots.

Previous ranking: 14

Morgan Whittaker scored from close range to mark his third goal in three games and take an early 1-0 lead against Chicago. But at the end of a goal-heavy matchup, Lewandowski scored and assisted off the bench to help see the Fire to a 4-2 win. The Rapids ended the weekend in the final playoff position and have a tough final test against Dallas to hang on.

Previous ranking: 17

Cincinnati only forced one save out of Andre Blake, but with the help of Roman Celentano’s six stops, they booked their playoff spot with a 1-0 win against the Union. Ayoub Jabbari came off the bench in the second half and registered the sole tally of the night, capitalizing on Blake’s save (a low-struck ball from Evander) to score off the rebound.

Previous ranking: 16

The Dynamo could secure home advantage in the playoffs with a top-of-the-table finish, but are hanging on to fifth place ahead of the final day after losing 3-1 to Portland (their first loss in six). They have a decisive meeting with St. Louis on the final day, who are just ahead of them on goal difference but tied on points.

Previous ranking: 19

Sergi Roberto’s first MLS goal was the icing on the cake of a 4-1 win against Austin that also featured Hirving Lozano’s first goal back from injury and three assists from Marco Reus. Austin’s not the toughest opponent in MLS this season, but the result matters as the Galaxy head into the final weekend still competing for a playoff spot.

Previous ranking: 20

The Crew may have lost the U.S. Open Cup final, but after beating D.C United 3-0, they’re finishing the regular season on a five-game win streak. They confirmed their spot in the postseason and finished the weekend in one of the Eastern Conference’s two wild card positions.

Previous ranking: 22

The Timbers secured a massive three points in a 3-1 win against the Dynamo highlighted by two assists and a goal from Vincent Janssen (nearly half his total goal contributions this year). With one game remaining, they’re in a wild card spot and have one tentative hand on the playoffs.

Previous ranking: 23

In his first start since September, Joaquín Pereyra powered the Loons to three points with two goals against LAFC in a 3-1 win. They’re still short of a final playoff spot (by two points) but following this result, they can still potentially break in with a win (and other results going in their favor), with San Jose waiting on the final day.

Previous ranking: 18

After falling behind 2-0 early to San Jose, Juan Manuel Sanabria’s headed goal (his second of the year) in the 23rd minute provided life, but unfortunately nothing followed. They’re currently outside the wild card spots ahead of a crucial final game against the Galaxy, but will also need some results to go their way.

Previous ranking: 12

RBNY had an early penalty stopped but came out with the upper hand against Nashville, taking a 2-0 lead in Tennessee that started with a beautiful link up between league wonderkids Adri Mehmeti and Julian Hall. But after two own goals and a stoppage-time winner from Nashville, the Red Bulls were eliminated from the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time ever.

Previous ranking: 21

After conceding a 91st-minute goal to last-placed Montréal, the Pigeons’ playoff chances are officially over. A 1-1 draw isn’t enough to launch them into the wild card position with one more game to go.

Previous ranking: 26

Dreyer — a back-to-back MLS All-Star — won’t feature in this year’s postseason, but that didn’t stop him from handing the recently-crowded U.S. Open Cup champions a loss in a 1-0 victory over St. Louis. Dreyer’s left-footed chip from distance was a taste of quality we’ll be missing seven days from now.

Previous ranking: 24

With no postseason hopes, victories must come from small achievements, like letting Reus assist three goals or having a goalkeeper make six saves while still conceding four.

Previous ranking: 25

Toronto succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Atlanta and ended their postseason dream in the process. Back to the drawing board for Robin Fraser’s side, who showed signs of potential earlier in the season.

Previous ranking: 28

With the playoffs out of the picture and the all-time goals conceded in a single season record newly secured, SKC still did their best to sabotage Dallas by absconding with a 1-1 draw against a side looking to lock up their top-two finish in the Western Conference.

Previous ranking: 29

Miguel Almirón won’t appear in this year’s playoffs, so he put on an end-of-season show in a 3-1 win against Toronto while eliminating the fellow Eastern Conference team from the playoffs. Five Stripes fans will take what they can get this year.

Previous ranking: 27

After losing to Toronto in the midweek, D.C. played Columbus with the playoffs already out of the picture and proceeded to lose 3-0. With 11 years since their last postseason victory, there’s nowhere to go but up for this MLS original.

Previous ranking: 30

It’s too late to save their season, but not too late to sink somebody else’s. A 91st-minute response to NYCFC’s 1-0 lead secured their 26th point of the year and put to rest New York’s postseason dream.