MLS Power Rankings: Inter Miami fall flat without Lionel Messi, San Diego FC continue strong trajectory, Charlotte FC back in the mix in the East

Prior Ranking: 30

Result: Lost to Austin FC 4-2

Ramifications: Another week, another loss for D.C.. Their attack is showing life, but their defense, well, remains concerning, conceding multiple goals. It's been a theme for them this season.

Tough start to life for new manager René Weiler. There's a long road ahead.

Prior Ranking: 29

Result: Lost to MNUFC 2-1

Ramifications: A genuinely awful result. Leading 1-0 with 10 minutes to spare, they were reduced to 10 men and conceded two penalty kicks to fall in front of their home fans after one of their most promising performances of the campaign. Just nowhere near good enough.

Prior Ranking: 26

Results: Did not play.

Ramifications: Still sit on 16 points, last in the West. They can get some solace as they have a chance to contend for the Leagues Cup and a trophy after what's been a relatively disappointing season otherwise.

Prior Ranking: 20

Result: Lost 3-1 to CF Montreal

Ramifications: Woof. Winless in nine and Caleb Porter has the hottest seat in MLS. If change happens, it will likely be during this Leagues Cup break.

Prior Ranking: 27

Results: Defeated New England Revolution 3-1

Ramifications: What a fantastic performance. After conceding the opener three minutes in, they responded with three unanswered, including a stoppage-time dagger. It was an elite mentality performance from the Canadian side, who weren't deterred after conceding early.

The playoffs are still out of sight and mind, but these are the types of performances you build on.

Prior Ranking: 25

Result: Drew Seattle 2-2

Ramifications: Sometimes, all you need to secure a result is one moment, and for Atlanta, that was this weekend. A 90+9 screamer from Alexey Miranchuk rescued them a result at home against the Sounders, with the former Atalanta star smacking home an absolute thunderbastard of an effort.

However, for a team with a roster like the Five Stripes, the fact that they needed a late winner to secure a draw at home speaks volumes to where they sit at the moment. It's just nowhere near the level they need to be at. The playoffs still feel like a fever dream as they're 14 points back.

Prior Ranking: 24

Result: Lost to Charlotte FC 2-0

Ramifications: Frustrating result for TFC. That's two straight scoreless losses for the club against Eastern Conference contenders. They out-possessed CLT on the day and outshot them 13 to 9, but never came up with anything. Just three landed on target, which highlights their need for an elite scorer this transfer window.

Prior Ranking: 24

Result: Lost to NYCFC 4-3

Ramifications: A real thriller of a match, but some defensive issues really highlight FCD's need to reinforce their backline this window. Of note, fans took issue with Lucho Acosta's performance on the day, and at the FT whistle, he reportedly was a part of a verbal scuffle with supporters.

After his blockbuster arrival ahead of the campaign, the move hasn't seemed to work out for either party. Could we see him move again this summer window?!

Prior Ranking: 23

Result: Lost 3-0 to Vancouver

Ramifications: Handily defeated. Rather, they were walloped. SKC has now conceded three goals to both VWFC and Seattle in recent weeks; they're falling short against the elite teams of the West. As it stands, they're on the outside looking in for the postseason, but a few signings this summer window could prove to be influential in their race for postseason soccer.

Prior Ranking: 19

Result: Did not play

Ramifications: Sit 11th in the West, three points out of a play-in spot.

Prior Ranking: 21

Result: Lost 1-0 to Chicago Fire

Ramifications: Just one win for RBNY in their last seven now; they're hitting a rough patch of form, and Saturday didn't change that. Against the Fire, they managed 11 shots and an xG of .5, but nothing came from it.

This RBNY team is crying out for width in their attack. A big summer window awaits.

Prior Ranking: 13

Result: Lost to RSL 2-1

Ramifications: Tough, tough result. A Jamar Ricketts own-goal gifted RSL a goal back early after Josef Martinexz opened the scoring, and San Jose never recovered. Reid Roberts was sent off late for a second yellow card, and that about summed things up.

SJ are winless in seven across all competitions.

Prior Ranking: 17

Result: Lost to Philadelphia 3-1

Ramifications: Really, really poor result. They conceded two late goals, one in the 89th minute and one in stoppage time, to drop the result.

Manager Chris Armas has to be furious with this one. A draw was there for the taking, even if Philly were the better team.

Prior Ranking: 22

Result: Defeated D.C. 4-2

Ramifications: Big, big attacking performance - and no joke - this four-goal showing was nearly one-fifth of their goal tally this season. The lowest-scoring team in the league, Austin really needed this.

With the result, they sit seventh in the West and are right in the thick of the playoff race. However, they need to keep scoring if they want any chance at postseason soccer.

Prior Ranking: 18

Result: Defeated San Jose 2-1

Ramifications: Big, big win over a competitor in the middle tier of the Western Conference. A late winner from Braian Ojeda secured the result, while RSL have now found results in six of their last seven. With reported attacking reinforcements joining this window, RSL is on the rise.

Prior Ranking: 16

Result: Defeated RBNY 1-0

Ramifications: A first-half penalty kick goal from Hugo Cuypers was the difference, and although it wasn't the sexiest of performances, it's a result manager Gregg Berhalter will absolutely take. The Fire are up to ninth in the East, and are right in the middle of the playoff fight there.

Cuypers, meanwhile, is up to 14 goals on the season and is on track for a career year.

Prior Ranking: 14

Result: Defeated FCD 4-3

Ramifications: Thrilling, thrilling match. A Maxi Moralez hat-trick propelled them to victory, and NYCFC are three unbeaten heading into the Leagues Cup. They're eighth in the East, and just six points out of a home playoff game.

Pascal Jansen will be thrilled.

Prior Ranking: 15

Result: Defeated TFC 2-0

Ramifications: CLT are now five unbeaten and they're looking like the side many predicted they would be this season. Striker Idan Toklomati has stepped up in the absence of Patrick Agyemang now that he has transferred to England, and Wilfried Zaha is cruising in the attack alongside him.

Really positive upside for the club right now.

Prior Ranking: 10

Result: Lost 1-0 to Portland

Ramifications: Really tough result to take. LAFC were on the upper hand all game long, but one lapse on a set-piece play saw them falter. The good news is they appear to be close to making one of the most ambitious moves in MLS, with links to Tottenham superstar Song Heung Min appearing.

If they can get that deal over the line, results like these won't matter in the long term.

Prior Ranking: 11

Result: Defeated Columbus 3-1

Ramifications: One of their best performances of the summer, Orlando schooled Columbus on the road with a phenomenal, resilient performance. Goals from Ramiro Enrique in the 76th and 79th minutes, as well as a stoppage-time dagger from Martin Ojeda, secured all three points after it appeared the Crew were all but headed for a win.

Orlando is up to sixth in the East and is just three points out of a playoff spot. These are the types of results you look back on in October. What a performance.

Prior Ranking: 12

Result: Defeated LAFC 2-1

Ramifications: Fantastic performance from the entire team. Every coach says it, but set pieces win games, and a clutch header from Cristian Paredes was ultimately the difference here.

Portland were outplayed by LAFC throughout most of the match, but capitalized in a moment and went on to put forth a valiant defensive performance to secure the result. Phil Neville should be ecstatic.

Portland are up to fifth and is just one point back from a home playoff game.

Prior Ranking: 5

Result: Lost to Orlando 3-1

Ramifications: Well. This was a night to forget for Columbus. All three goals conceded across the final 11 minutes of regulation and stoppage time saw them go from three points to zero in a match between Eastern Conference playoff contenders. It's one to immediately wipe from memory.

The positive spin is that Columbus have a new DP in Wessam Abou Ali to feature during the Leagues Cup, helping them push for a back-to-back title in the competition.

Prior Ranking: 9

Result: Drew Atlanta United 2-2

Ramifications: Bummer of a result for Seattle. They played a fantastic game on the road, but an absolute screamer out of nowhere in stoppage time saw them drop two points. Not much you can do about that, though.

They're still fourth in the West and right on track.

Prior Ranking: 8

Result: Lost to San Diego FC 1-0

Ramifications: A result was always going to be tough to get on the road in San Diego, but Nashville played a great game; they just never generated enough in the attack to find a result, though.

In the grand scheme of things, though, this was a great learning opportunity for both B.J. Callaghan and the Nashville team. There are a lot of takeaways from it, and things to evolve with.

They're still third in the East and right in the hunt for a Supporters' Shield and an Eastern Conference title.

Prior Ranking: 4

Result: Drew FCC 0-0

Ramifications: Should be thrilled they walked away with a point here. They were severely shorthanded, and for some reason, Cincy's attack just couldn't click. Miami should happily take the point and walk here.

Prior Ranking: 3

Result: Defeated CITY 2-1

Ramifications: Down two key players due to yellow card suspensions, the Loons went to Missouri and barely escaped. Two late penalty kick goals from Kelvin Yeboah secured them the win, but it was not their best performance this campaign.

However, three points are three points, and manager Eric Ramsay will walk away with a cheeky grin here. They're third in the West, but just two points back.

Prior Ranking: 7

Result: Drew Inter Miami 0-0

Ramifications: A ridiculously bland, boring game. Miami didn't play well, and they were down both Messi and Alba on top of Maxi Falxon, and Oscar Ustari was missing out. This was two points dropped.

Prior Ranking: 6

Result: Defeated SKC 3-0

Ramifications: Brilliant, brilliant performance. Just completely dominant to the point of where SKC never had a chance to come back.

They have a game in-hand over San Diego, and trail them by just one point in the standings right now. If reports are to be believed, too, Vancouver's attack could get a big boost this summer with links to Germany legend Thomas Muller arriving over the weekend.

Prior Ranking: 2

Result: Defeated Nashville SC 1-0

Ramifications: Anders Dreyer and Chucky Lozano combined for an absolutely scintillating goal to beat one of the best defenses and teams in the Eastern Conference, seeing them walk away with three points. It was a performance led by their star duo, and when they needed them to, both stepped up to the plate.

SDFC has all the makings for a silverware run this year.

Prior Ranking: 3

Result: Defeated Colorado 3-1

Ramifications: This was the performance of a team with the guts and fight to compete for silverware this season. A late brace from Mikael Uhre in the 89th minute and in stoppage time secured them all three points, after it appeared both teams were going to walk away with a point on the night.

Fantastic result that sees Philly move up to first in the East and atop the Supporters' Shield rankings. Job well done.