MLS Power Rankings: Inter Miami remain undefeated after big win over Columbus while FC Cincinnati, Seattle Sounders and Charlotte FC all have big weekends

Prior Ranking: 30

Result: Drew Orlando City 0-0

Ramifications: Apoint is a point, right? In the grand scheme of things, though, it's just their third this campaign. They're still winless, still permanent head coach-less, and still without any sort of direction or identity. It's troubling to see.

Prior Ranking: 29

Result: Lost to Austin FC 1-0

Ramifications: It just keeps getting worse. They have both Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil back in the mix, but LA couldn't get anything over the line against an in-form Austin side. Even with an xG of 1.0, their attack couldn't figure things out, and it's now nine weeks without a win for the reigning champions.

Prior Ranking: 24

Result: Lost to Philadelphia Union 3-0

Ramifications: Where do you even start? Over $30 million spent in the offseason to revamp their attack, but just one goal in their last three matches - all three of which they're winless in.

Individual errors plagued them on Saturday against Philly, but there is a bigger picture issue with Atlanta here: how can they have such a star-studded roster, on paper, but not click on the pitch? There's a lack of chemistry amongst the squad, while their midfield doesn't know how to break the game down off the ball. It's just puzzling.

A deserved loss.

Prior Ranking: 28

Result: Defeated RBNY 2-1

Ramifications: Their losing streak is finally over. What an important result, and what a performance from Joao Peglow. The Brazilian winger scored a goal of the season candidate with a brilliant overhead kick, and bagged their other on the evening as well, handing them their first win in six matches. These are the moments that can turn a season around.

Prior Ranking: 18

Result: Lost to Toronto FC 1-0

Ramifications: This is a tough one. Diego Luna was sent off with a straight red card in what has evolved to be an incredibly controversial VAR decision. Postgame, head coach Pablo Mastroeni as well as defender Alex Katranis sounded off on the decision.

"To have that long of a look at it, and, I understand from a referee's perspective, there's ego involved when that happens," Mastroeni said of the review. "But I think as a casual observer, you look at that and I think you make a different decision.

"There is no conclusive evidence based on the video ... so to me, it's not a red card," he added. "I don't even know what to say, because (Luna) is the most trustworthy teammate, a guy that's not going to put his team behind the eight ball, and that wasn't his fault."

RSL are off to a disappointing start with three wins and six losses to start the season.

Prior Ranking: 27

Result: Drew Vancouver 0-0

Ramifications: All in all, it's a good point to take. Vancouver is an excellent team, and holding it scoreless is an impressive feat. However, CITY have scored just five goals this season - the second least in the league, with only Montreal behind them.
A four-game losing streak was snapped, which is a net positive, but it's their fourth time being shutout in their past five matches.

It's nowhere near good enough at the moment from their attack.

Prior Ranking: 25

Result: Drew Colorado 2-2

Ramifications: It's never a bad result to earn a point against a playoff contender, and Houston should be thrilled with this result. It took a 96th-minute equalizer from Ondrej Lingr on his debut to secure it. Their brand new Designated Player, 21 minutes into his MLS career, scored the last-gasp equalizer - and potentially, offered the Dynamo faithful a glimpse of what may come.

“The feeling is amazing, scoring on my debut,” Lingr said postgame. “It was a tough game, but in the end we take it, we conceded, and we had to go to the [96th] minute.”

Prior Ranking: 20

Result: Lost to SKC 5-3

Ramifications: San Jose's defense ultimately let them down here. Numbers will never tell the entire story of a game, but Sporting scored five goals on an xG of just 1.9, while San Jose scored only three with an expected 4.2 on the cards. In nearly every category of important stats, from possession to shots - to crosses completed and corner kick attempts - San Jose led Sporting. Yet, somehow, they conceded five goals at home. It's just not good enough from their defense, and Bruce Arena knows that.

Prior Ranking: 15

Result: Lost to New England 2-0

Ramifications: A really poor loss. New England wasn't spectacular by any means, but NYCFC had arguably their worst performance of the season. Sixteen total shots, but only two on target, isn't anywhere near where their attack should be, and their defense really let them down on both goals conceded.

One to forget and move on from.

Prior Ranking: 26

Result: Defeated San Jose 5-3

Ramifications: Huge, huge, huge performance. Their attack excelled, and it was the first time this season we've seen Sporting at their very best in the final third. Their defense won't be thrilled to have conceded three, which is definitely still an issue to highlight, but their attack was outstanding. Daniel Salloi scored a brace, while new DP Manu Garcia scored his first goal of the season, and Logan Ndenbe and Erik Thommy also found themselves on the scoresheet.

An all-around team performance.

Prior Ranking: 23

Result: Defeated RSL 1-0

Ramifications: It's hard to say if TFC have actually turned around their season yet, but Saturday's win over RSL marked their fourth-straight positive result - but their first win of the season. A ninth-minute strike from Theo Corbeanu was the difference, and it was a three points they crucially needed.

A big result from Robin Fraser's men, they're now up to seven points on the season.

Prior Ranking: 22

Result: Defeated NYCFC 2-0

Ramifications: Caleb Porter's side look brand new in recent weeks, and the return of Leonardo Campana on Saturday marked a real sense of the tide switching. Their star DP striker, whom they traded for this offseason, scored the opening goal in the contest, before Ignatius Ganago bagged the second. Carles Gil, meanwhile, recorded an assist that moved him up the chart to become the Revolution's all-time assist leader with 74.

Prior Ranking: 21

Result: Drew MNUFC 0-0

Ramifications: Without Petar Musa in the XI, Dallas secured a point on the road against a very good MNUFC side - that is a stellar result, by all accounts. Of course, holding the Loons scoreless they'll have wanted more from the match, but without their star striker, a point is as good of a result as they could have imagined.

Prior Ranking: 17

Result: Drew Portland 3-3

Ramifications: Olivier Giroud finally scored an MLS goal. A world-class free kick, the Frenchman banged one in off the crossbar for a strike that probably lifted months of weight off his shoulders. However, by all accounts, it was not a brilliant performance from the Black and Gold. It took a stoppage-time penalty from Denis Bouanga to secure the point, and Portland's attack rather ran the show most of the evening.

Days after announcing he would be departing the club at the end of the season, manager Steve Cherundolo was sent off after receiving two different yellow cards during the match, too. It was a sending off that stirred controversy, and even had Timbers manager Phil Neville labeling it a "disgrace" in his postgame press conference.

Prior Ranking: 11

Result: Lost to Seattle 3-0

Ramifications: Just completely outclassed. Seattle ran rampant throughout the entire game, and Nashville had absolutely zero answers all throughout. Three goals conceded within a 15-minute span defined the game, while it was pretty evident that Walker Zimmerman was missed. The U.S. international is currently sidelined with a face injury.

On a worrying note, Nashville has now lost three of its last four after a terrific start to the season. It cannot allow this to become a growing trend.

Prior Ranking: 19

Result: Defeated Nashville SC 3-0

Ramifications: Brian Schmetzer's squad absolutely needed this. That's four results in their last five, and Seattle is starting to really come together. Pedro De La Vega scored his first MLS goal of the season, while Paul Rothrock and Danny Musovski both bagged a strike as well.

Jordan Morris is set to return, too, and that will only bolster their odds.

Prior Ranking: 13

Result: Lost to FC Cincinnati 3-2

Ramifications: Jonathan Bamba continues to impress in MLS. Even though the Fire lost on Saturday, they put forth a really valiant effort, and manager Gregg Berhalter should not be upset by any means. However, they've gone on a four-game stretch that's seen them winless dating back to Matchday 5. It's becoming a worrying trend for Chicago that they're not winning close matches, but it's far too early in the season to be drawing any cause for concern after their tremendous start to the year.

Prior Ranking: 5

Result: Lost to Charlotte 3-0

Ramifications: Two-straight losses where their defense conceded three goals. Last week it was the Rapids, and this time around it was Charlotte. A red card to defender Andres Reyes ultimately doomed them, after he earned a second yellow 40 minutes into the match. It resulted in two conceded goals following his exit.

They'll bounce back, but a rough two-game stretch after a brilliant beginning to life as a franchise.

Prior Ranking: 9

Result: Drew Montreal 0-0

Ramifications: Zero clue what's going on with Orlando. Are they good? Are they bad? We don't know. This was their third-straight scoreless draw, but they're on a six-match unbeaten streak.

There are surely questions to be asked about their attack at the moment, but at this point, the team will take the clean sheet and walk while hoping a few training sessions dedicated to succeeding in the final third change its fate next week.

Prior Ranking: 14

Result: Drew Houston 2-2

Ramifications: Tough result to take in. They conceded an equalizer in the 96th minute after scoring a late go-ahead, and it really should have been three points. However, manager Chris Armas won't be too annoyed - they've recorded just two losses all year, and have had big wins over both Charlotte and San Diego. The key is hoping this doesn't become a trend moving forward.

Prior Ranking: 8

Result: Lost to D.C. United 2-1

Ramifications: Sometimes you lose, simply due to a pure moment of excellence from your opposition. Peglow's bicycle kick was just that. On those days, you tip your hat, take a deep breath and move on to next week.

The lone positive takeaway for RBNY will be another goal for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. He was criticized for a few lazy runs last week, and responded with a lovely goal.

Prior Ranking: 12

Result: Drew LAFC 3-3

Ramifications: Fantastic performance from Felipe Mora, who netted a really impressive brace. However, their defense left a lot to be desired, and a costly foul from Diego Chara in the penalty area late allowed LAFC to equalize. The biggest storyline from the match, though, was Phil Neville's postgame. The Timbers manager went on a rant over the officiating from the game...

"I got a yellow card at the end for taking my players away from the referee. I thought that I was showing respect. I thought that I was doing my job," he said. "I thought that I was protecting and showing respect to a set of referees that didn’t do us any favors, that’ve never done us any favors, and I get a yellow card and maybe I’m suspended for the next game for actually trying to help them. But that’s it, done. That’s it, me done with 'em."

Neville then paused, and club staff opened the floor for reporters' questions, but he continued before a question could be asked.

"And we’ll get a report and they’ll say that I was causing dissent," he went on. "I was getting my players away from the officials. And Steve Cherundolo should never have been sent off, should never have been sent off on any game of football in the whole world. And what we’re seeing now is that we’ve just played a 3-3 game against one of the best teams, an incredible advert of football. And I just think that they [the referees] just want to be the kings of the castle. It’s all about them. They just want to show that they are the main people in this league, and unfortunately, it’s not good."

Prior Ranking: 16

Result: Defeated LA Galaxy 1-0

Ramifications: Brandon Vazquez missed a penalty, but then scored the eventual winner in what was a relatively lucky victory for Austin. They didn't play well by any means, the the Galaxy were far worse, which ended up helping them on the day. A good bounce back performance after their 5-1 thumping last weekend by the boots of Vancouver.

Prior Ranking: 10

Result: Defeated Atlanta United 3-0

Ramifications: What a terrific performance. Quinn Sullivan was the star of the show with both a goal and an assist, while the Union defense really stood out with a clean sheet against a talented Atlanta attack. It was a big result for them at home in front of their own fans, and one that saw them snap a three-game stretch of poor form. This was their first win since Matchday 5 after beginning the season with four wins in their first five.

Prior Ranking: 6

Result: Drew FC Dallas 0-0

Ramifications: The Loons are on an eight-match unbeaten streak, which is impressive in its own sense, but they're scoreless across the past two matches, drawing both Toronto and FC Dallas 0-0. These are both teams that, on paper, Minnesota should be aiming for three points against. FCD were without Petar Musa, and Lucho Acosta was only available off the bench as well, which makes this feel like a missed opportunity.

Prior Ranking: 2

Result: Lost to Inter Miami 1-0

Ramifications: They did about everything possible, besides putting the ball in the back of the net, against Miami on Saturday. Darlington Nagbe was absolutely terrific, while their defense was nearly lights-out through the entire game. New $4.5M man Daniel Gazdag missed two golden chances, which will loom large in retrospect, but the Crew look like a more complete team with him in the XI.

Manager Wilfried Nancy won't be thrilled, but there's zero reason to be disappointed, either.

Prior Ranking: 7

Result: Defeated San Diego FC 3-0

Ramifications: What a performance from the entire group. Just a fantastic team showing with Wilfried Zaha returning from injury to make the XI as well. Patrick Agyemang sank home from the penalty spot, while Pep Biel continues to be an early frontrunner for MLS MVP with three goals and six assists on the season now. Dominant in every sense, that's now five mins in their last six and two-straight clean sheets.

Prior Ranking: 4

Result: Defeated Chicago Fire 3-2

Ramifications: Evander returned to the XI and led Cincy to a truly incredible result. The Brazilian netted a brace, including the winner, while Kevin Denkey bagged the strike in between. Attacker Sergio Santos also recorded two assists, in what was a really impressive performance from the 30-year-old teammate of Evander.

Chicago is no easy team to play, but this was Cincy at their best, and manager Pat Noonan should be thrilled with what he has seen.

Prior Ranking: 1

Result: Drew St. Louis CITY SC 0-0

Ramifications: CITY began the year with four-straight clean sheets, and they boast one of the best defenses in the league to begin the season. That is the only excuse Vancouver will have for not coming away with a victory here. Winning on the road is never easy, but with an xG of 1.8, the Whitecaps really should have come away with something more here. After their blowout performance against Austin last weekend, this was a stark contrast.

Prior Ranking: 3

Result: Defeated Columbus Crew 1-0

Ramifications: Benja Cremaschi had his best showing yet in an Inter Miami shirt. The U.S. international scored a fantastic diving header, and was a thorn in the side of Columbus all evening long as Miami defeated the Crew. Neither Luis Suarez or Lionel Messi really had outstanding games, but Cremaschi and the Herons midfield really stepped up - and manager Javier Mascherano will be ecstatic.

The lone unbeaten MLS team through nine Matchdays, Miami showed just how good they can be on Saturday - even on an off day for their star attacking duo. To be the best, you have to beat the best - and they showed just that against the Crew.