Power Rankings: Nashville secures top position as Chicago’s decline persists

It’s Monday once again, and following an exciting weekend of matches, it’s time for the newest MLS Power Rankings from ESPN.

Last week’s rank: 1

Nashville faced a crucial match towards the end of the season, with Sam Surridge netting goals in the fourth and 91st minutes to secure a 2-2 draw against Miami. Although they haven’t won in three matches (two draws, one loss), they remain on track to challenge Inter’s Supporters’ Shield record with nine games left in the season.

Last week’s rank: 3

St. Louis shows no signs of slowing down, recently overpowering Minnesota 4-2. Rafael Navarro, having just joined the team, has made a remarkable impact with four goals in his first three games, including a brace that took down the Loons.

Last week’s rank: 2

The Whitecaps, currently in second place, lost some ground in the Supporters’ Shield race after their second defeat in three games, falling 2-1 to Austin despite outshooting them 20-4. Brian White scored the single goal, marking his 15th of the season, which is the third highest in the league.

Last week’s rank: 4

Miami managed to avoid another home loss against Nashville, finishing 2-2 after equalizing with an own goal and taking a brief lead thanks to Lionel Messi’s league-leading 19th goal. Still, their home record remains disappointing, with just four wins out of twelve games.

Last week’s rank: 6

Cincinnati enjoys scoring in high-stakes matches, tallying the second-most goals in MLS (52), but they’ve also conceded 59. After a 3-3 draw against Charlotte—despite dominating with 28 shots—fans have reason to be optimistic following their struggles, especially with key players suspended.

Last week’s rank: 5

LAFC suffered a surprising 3-1 defeat to Kansas City, a setback for a team expected to be a playoff contender. Now sitting sixth in the Western Conference, they have eight more chances to improve their standing.

Last week’s rank: 8

With an impressive six saves from Matt Freese and Nicolás Fernández’s 15th goal of the season, the Pigeons secured a 2-0 victory over RSL—marking their first win since July 25, even with a few draws and losses mixed in during that period.

Last week’s rank: 9

Dor Turgeman was instrumental in Chicago’s 2-1 win over the Fire, scoring the initial goal before assisting Peyton Miller for the winning score. The Revs maintained their lead, effectively shutting down their opponents, despite being significantly outshot in the second half.

Last week’s rank: 7

Chicago’s string of four consecutive draws ended in a 2-1 loss to New England, with Matt Turner making five crucial saves to prevent a stronger comeback despite their second-half pressure.

Last week’s rank: 10

Houston struggled to find the net, losing 1-0 to San Jose after conceding from a corner in the 38th minute, despite generating several promising opportunities against Angus Gunn’s six saves.

play

Sporting Kansas City vs. LAFC – Game Highlights

Last week’s rank: 11

In a high-scoring 3-3 draw, Kristijan Kahlina made six saves, maintaining Charlotte’s unbeaten streak in their last seven regular-season matches despite not keeping a clean sheet.

Last week’s rank: 13

Orlando’s ascent continues after a solid 3-0 victory against a strong Toronto team, largely thanks to the contributions of Antoine Griezmann, who has been a scoring force since his arrival.

Last week’s rank: 15

Cavan Sullivan shined in a dominating 5-0 win over San Diego, scoring two impressive goals in what has been a breakthrough season for the 16-year-old.

Last week’s rank: 14

Dallas managed to keep their unbeaten run alive against Portland, winning 2-1 despite Petar Musa’s limited play due to a shoulder injury, which keeps them poised ahead of their upcoming match against Austin.

Last week’s rank: 12

RSL is feeling the pressure following a 2-0 loss to NYCFC, struggling to find their form with a significant number of chances wasted despite Freese’s excellent goalkeeping.

play

Cavan Sullivan continues red-hot run with 2 goals in Philly’s win

Last week’s rank: 16

San Diego is facing a tough patch as they prepare for a weekend match against Miami following a 5-0 defeat to Philly, marking their third consecutive loss.

Last week’s rank: 18

The Galaxy concluded a midweek loss with a 1-1 draw against Seattle, falling just short of the playoff zone due to a lack of goal differential.

Last week’s rank: 17

After losing 4-2 to St. Louis, Minnesota finds themselves in a downward spiral with three straight defeats and now face critical matches against teams in contention for playoff spots.

Last week’s rank: 19

After a seven-game unbeaten streak, Toronto faced a setback with a 3-0 loss to Orlando, struggling to convert opportunities while conceding multiple chances to their rivals.

Last week’s rank: 20

In a crucial 1-0 win over Columbus, Ronald Donkor scored the late winner, helping the team secure their first three points since August 1, as they gear up for the Hudson River Derby.

Last week’s rank: 23

Displaying strong defensive skills, San Jose defeated Houston 1-0, marking their second consecutive win and a four-game unbeaten streak after struggling earlier in the season.

Last week’s rank: 21

Seattle brought home a 1-1 draw against the Galaxy, reflecting their fourth tie in a row. While they haven’t lost, they are now winless in 12 consecutive matches, tying with Toronto for the longest dry spell this season.

Last week’s rank: 24

United managed to end their five-game winless streak with a win over Columbus, but then settled for a 0-0 draw against Atlanta, creating no shots on target which raises questions about their offensive capabilities.

Last week’s rank: 22

The Timbers pushed hard during the final moments but ultimately lost 2-1 to Dallas after scoring in stoppage time.

Last week’s rank: 25

Austin is currently on a six-game unbeaten run, including three wins and three draws, after a 2-1 victory against Vancouver, as they prepare for a derby against Dallas next week.

Last week’s rank: 26

Columbus fell to RBNY with a last-minute goal, marking their seventh defeat in eight games, casting a shadow over their playoff hopes with only nine matches left.

Last week’s rank: 27

Paxten Aaronson’s stellar performance continued as he netted from the penalty spot, securing a 1-0 win against Montréal—marking the Rapids’ sixth consecutive home victory without conceding a goal.

Last week’s rank: 28

Atlanta managed to avoid a defeat with a 0-0 draw against D.C. United, despite firing off 20 attempts but struggling to find the net.

Last week’s rank: 30

Sporting Kansas City remains at the bottom of the table but showcased potential with a 3-1 victory over LAFC, celebrating a first goal from their new signing André Luiz.

Last week’s rank: 29

Following a 1-0 loss to Colorado, Montréal has lost four in a row, yet there was a slight improvement, as Sébastian Breza helped limit goals allowed compared to previous matches.