MLS Power Rankings: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami clinch playoffs, Marco Reus' makes bold LA Galaxy debut, RSL underwhelm

Not good, Nashville. Another game, another loss at Geodis Park. They fell 2-0 to Austin FC, and their struggles on all ends of the pitch once again continued. With the Eastern Conference generally underperforming, though, they're still in the playoff hunt.

Seven goals were scored in the first 48 minutes of their match with FC Dallas at the weekend. Unlucky for DC, though, they were on the trailing end of four of them.

They're bottom of the Eastern Conference due to criteria points at the end of the weekend, but still just two points out of a play-in game for the postseason. If Christian Benteke can continue his scoring heroics, with the Belgian tied atop the Golden Boot race with 17 at the moment, nothing is impossible.

City held a 4-2 lead over the Portland Timbers at the weekend, but collapsed and ended up with a 4-4 draw. That's not to say it wasn't an exciting match, but rather, a disappointing close from the boys in red.

City are 10 points out of contention for a spot in the postseason, they can't really afford hiccups like their result at the weekend as the campaign closes out.

An incredible 2-0 victory over RSL has them in high spirits. However, their Spring and ealy summer campaign put them in a hole that seems too deep to dig out of. Even with their impressive performance on the road in Utah, they still sit 17 points out of a play-in game for the postseason.

Disaster. They were stomped into the ground by a very not-so-good New England side 5-0.

Laurent Courtois has to be feeling the heat. Nothing is going to plan.

The Loons are no longer Looning.

They have just one win in their last 11 matches after a 3-2 defeat to the Sounders at Allianz Field. If there's a positive spin, though, it's that new designated player Kelvin Yeboah bagged a brace on his debut. If he can continue to score like that, something could yet come of their campaign.

Chicago drew NYCFC 2-2 at the weekend, earning them their third result in their last four matches, including their second point against Nick Cushing's side during the span.

They're tied for last in the East, but are just two points out of a postseason spot. At this point, anything can happen.

Listen, you have to applaud Atlanta for their transfer business. Selling Giorgis Giakoumakis, Thiago Almada and Caleb Wiley for reportedly "north of $50M" in one transfer window is stellar work.

Now, they just have to figure out two things.

1) Who is going to coach them on a full-time basis?

2) Who is going to play watchable soccer on their roster?

They fell 2-0 to the LA Galaxy at the weekend and are just holding onto the final playoff spot in the East by a thread, with just a one-point lead over 10th place Philadelphia.

Do we know where this performance came from? Nope.
Does that matter? Also, nope.

Sporting thumped Orlando City 3-0 at the weekend to move within closing distance of a postseason spot. They're seven points out of ninth in the West, and this was their fourth win in their last six regular season appearances.

FC Dallas are on the rise, and they're playing some of the best attacking soccer in the West at the moment. They bagged four first-half goals to defeat DC United 4-3 at the weekend, and are now undefeated in their last four regular season matches.

A postseason run could be on the cards if they keep playing at this level.

A fourth place finish in the Leagues Cup is something to be proud of, but they fell just short in the tournament. They did not play on matchday 26, but are back Wednesday night against the competition winners, Columbus Crew, in regular season play.

A disappointing 1-0 loss to Toronto FC at the weekend saw Houston fall to eighth in the Western Conference. Their attack couldn't get anything going in front of their home fans, and now they have two-straight matches against LAFC on the cards.

Not ideal.

Absolutely thumped by Sporting Kansas City, 3-0, in a cross-conference match. It was an unexpected result, considering Orlando were five-straight unbeaten in regular season play coming into the match.

Still, we wouldn't read too much into it.

Are New England good, or is Montreal just.. not?

In all seriousness, what an astonishing result for Caleb Porter's Revolution. They pummeled CF MTL 5-0 for their biggest result of the season, and only their second regular season win since July 3. They're still tied for last in the Eastern Conference, but at the same time, they're only two points out of playoff contention and frankly, look like the most intimidating of the bunch on the outside looking in at the moment.

John Herdman's squad earned an impressive 1-0 win at the weekend, defeating the Houston Dynamo on the road. With all the talent in their squad - specifically Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne - they should be performing like this on a regular basis.

This fall campaign will be telling.

The Whitecaps didn't feature at the weekend, as they play in the Canadian Championship semifinals Tuesday night against Pacific FC.

They return to MLS action next weekend.

Austin beat Nashville SC on the road, 2-0, beginning their fall campaign on a high note. Josh Wolff is on the hot seat, and he knows hiccups will not be allowed as they look to clinch a postseason spot.

NYCFC drew the Fire at the weekend, marking their fourth-straight match in regular season play with a point earned. There's not a ton of inspiring soccer being played from Nick Cushing's side, but they're fifth in the East and right in contention for a home playoff game.

CLT drew RBNY 1-1 at the weekend, in a rather bland match between two Eastern Conference contenders. Dean Smith's side were content with a point, and now they look ahead to continue building on their four-match unbeaten run in regular season action.

Things aren't looking good for RSL right now. They've winless in their last four matches of the regular season, and star striker Chicho Arango - who sits tied atop the MLS Golden Boot race - exited their 2-0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes just minutes before the halftime break due to injury.

The extent of the injury is yet to be revealed, but with the result, RSL are likely out of the Supporters' Shield race, as well as the top spot in the West. They sit third, but eight points back from the Galaxy.

Jordan Morris is scoring striker goals, is on track for a career season, and is as clinical as ever at the moment. He bagged his 10th goal of the campaign in a resilient 3-2 victory on the road over Minnesota United at the weekend, and the Sounders truly look like a squad at the moment.

One to watch in the West as the season closes.

Portland started terribly, but fortunately for them, the bottom half of the West is arguably worse.

There's also the fun factor that they can't defend, but at the same time, their attack has the ability to score more goals than any other team in this league. They've scored three or more goals in five of their last six matches, which is genuinely insane.

Let's call it the Phil Neville factor, yeah?

The Timbers came back from 2-0, 3-1, and 4-2 down to draw St. Louis City SC 4-4 at the weekend, in yet another thrilling match. Now, they're seventh in the West and just four points out of hosting a playoff game.

The Rapids earned third-place honors in the Leagues Cup after a thrilling run in the competition. They've been one of the 2024 campaign's brightest developments, and now, they're set to make a late-season run in the West.

They're back in action next weekend in regular season play.

FCC were served a taste of their own medicine after their July thumping of Inter Miami. The Herons bested them 2-0 at the weekend, despite Cincy having a man-advantage for the final 45 minutes. They lacked attacking desire, and if they want to compete for both MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield, they can't afford performances like that against fellow contenders.

The Red Bulls drew CLT 1-1 in a, frankly, uninspiring contest. There wasn't much to take away beyond the fact that it looked like two teams competing for a playoff spot were content with the point. However, RBMY can hold solace knowing they're fourth in the East.

LAFC fell in the Leagues Cup final to the Crew, but need to hold their heads high as they have a quick turnaround for another competition, Wednesday night.

They take on the Seattle Sounders on the road in the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as they look to hoist some early-season silverware before a playoff run.

They return to MLS play next weekend.

Leagues Cup winners. There's not much else to say. Wilfried Nancy has taken this team to three Cup Finals in the last eight months, and they just lifted their second. It's beyond impressive.

They're back in action Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Union.

Sensational.

Defeated Atlanta United 2-0 and Marco Reus debuted off the bench with a goal and an assist for the Galaxy. A picture-perfect moment for the club, they sit five-points clear atop the Western Conference, though second-place LAFC have three games in-hand over them.

Luis Suarez, he's like a fine wine. The Uruguayan's sensational brace handed the Herons a statement victory over fellow title contenders FC Cincinnati. At the same time, they became the first MLS side to clinch a postseason spot.

Mind you, they're doing this without Lionel Messi - who injured his ankle in Copa America 2024 with Argentina. However, Miami's talisman will return this fall, manager Tata Martino has confirmed.