It may have come against weak competition, but the Chicago Fire kept two clean sheets in the span of three days to make the biggest climb of any club in Week 12.
(Our MLS Power Rankings are voted on by Goal's editors and writers. Comments written by Rudi Schuller ).
1. TORONTO FC
Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
LAST WEEK: 1
CHANGE: —
The winning streak came to an end, but the unbeaten streak remains. TFC felt aggrieved to only take one point out of Red Bull Arena, which tells you where the bar is set with this team at the moment.
2. NEW YORK CITY FC
Adam Hunger
LAST WEEK: 3
CHANGE: +1
NYCFC walked into Orlando City Stadium and handed the hosts their first loss in the new building. And it was a blowout.
3. FC DALLAS
Tim Heitman
LAST WEEK: 2
CHANGE: -1
It seems strange to see Dallas so low, but only one win in the past four games will definitely knock any team down a couple of pegs — even a team that just suffered its first league loss of the season.
4. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Mark J. Rebilas
LAST WEEK: 4
CHANGE: —
A win and a loss in a matter of days sees SKC sitting in the exact same spot as last week. This team isn't going to stray too far from the top, from the look of things.
5. CHICAGO FIRE
Mike Dinovo
LAST WEEK: 8
CHANGE: +3
Chicago did what good teams do when faced with relatively poor opposition: grabbed maximum points and looked impressive in doing so. How high can this rebuilt side go?
6. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
LAST WEEK: 5
CHANGE: -1
Winless in four and looking like a shell of the side that dominated in the first month of the season, the Timbers could be in for a big drop if they don't turn things around soon.
7. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
LAST WEEK: 6
CHANGE: -1
Two away games in Week 12 meant two more losses for the Dynamo as the Texas outfit still hasn't figured out how to win on the road.
8. SEATTLE SOUNDERS
LAST WEEK: 10
CHANGE: +2
At this point, the Sounders are riding their reputation more than their play on the field. A morale-boosting home win against lowly RSL could be a turning point, or another false dawn.
9. ATLANTA UNITED
Brett Davis
LAST WEEK: 12
CHANGE: +3
Atlanta's first win since April reminded us why this team is so fun to watch. Miguel Almiron is the real deal, and if the club can find some consistency it might be able to recreate the heights of a magical first six weeks in MLS.
10. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Tim Heitman
LAST WEEK: 14
CHANGE: +4
The Quakes survived a challenging week with a win and a draw against two of the better clubs in the league.
11. ORLANDO CITY
Reinhold Matay
LAST WEEK: 7
CHANGE: -4
The fortress has finally been breached, and in spectacular fashion. The Lions are no longer undefeated at their new home, but perhaps more troubling is the fashion in which they capitulated to expansion cousins NYCFC over the weekend.
12. MONTREAL IMPACT
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
LAST WEEK: 13
CHANGE: +1
The Impact reminded their fans — and themselves — that they can be a fun, ruthless team on their day. There are still tons of question marks at the back, but several weapons up front will keep games interesting.
13. COLUMBUS CREW
LAST WEEK: 9
CHANGE: -4
The Crew still don't seem to have found a killer instinct, and it came back to haunt them at Gillette Stadium.
14. NEW YORK RED BULLS
LAST WEEK: 11
CHANGE: -3
You know the Red Bulls have fallen on hard times when a draw at home is reason to celebrate.
15. LA GALAXY
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
LAST WEEK: 15
CHANGE: —
Unbeaten in four and on a two-game winning streak, one has to wonder if the Galaxy have finally found the chemistry that seemed to elude them for the first two months of the campaign.
16. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
LAST WEEK: 16
CHANGE: —
Consecutive wins at home and only one loss overall since mid-April have New England feeling a bit optimistic. If this keeps up the Revs will find themselves on the right side of the playoff race.
17. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
LAST WEEK: 17
CHANGE: —
The Union suddenly own the longest current winning streak in MLS. Their horrid start betrays them, but another good result or two should see them climb up our rankings.
18. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
LAST WEEK: 19
CHANGE: +1
With three wins in the last four games, the Whitecaps seem primed for a jump. Can they be consistent enough to do so?
19. D.C. UNITED
Derik Hamilton
LAST WEEK: 20
CHANGE: +1
With a three-game losing streak and a long trip across the continent ahead, you have to wonder where the hope lies for D.C. United.
20. MINNESOTA UNITED
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
LAST WEEK: 18
CHANGE: -2
The Loons have lost two straight, and Christian Ramirez has scored an own goal in each defeat. The results have been harsh on Minnesota, but there are reasons to believe in Adrian Heath's side.
21. REAL SALT LAKE
LAST WEEK: 22
CHANGE: +1
Despite being hit hard by injuries, RSL got a win in its double match week. It's enough to drag the Utah side out of our basement.
22. COLORADO RAPIDS
Eric Hartline
LAST WEEK: 21
CHANGE: -1
Two more games, two more losses. There are only so many ways to say "this is not the 2016 Rapids," and we've already run out of them.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)
