Of all the teams that could have been expected to be sitting on top of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference at the start of May, the Philadelphia Union wouldn't have made many people's lists.
That's where the Union are though, having climbed to the top of the East standings after Wednesday's 2-0 win against FC Cincinnati. Jim Curtin's side recorded its fifth win in seven matches to pull even on points with D.C. United and Montreal, nudging past them both on goal difference.
The Union are the highest-rated East team in the latest Goal MLS Power Rankings, which are topped by five Western Conference teams. The LA powerhouses, Los Angeles FC and the LA Galaxy, continue to stand tall at the top while Seattle's gutsy draw against LAFC allowed the Sounders to retain the third spot.
Rock bottom belongs to the Colorado Rapids, who fired head coach Anthony Hudson after Saturday's 1-0 loss to Atlanta United, and after Hudson ripped the quality of his own roster. Now interim head coach Conor Casey will try to help the league's worst defense, and lone remaining winless team, climb out of the basement.
Here are Goal's MLS Power Rankings after week 9 action:
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