1. Seattle Sounders FC
5-1-2, 16 pts
113 points/120 possible points
Seven First-Place Votes
The Seattle Sounders FC are coming off of a big 3-1 win over New York City FC at Yankee Stadium this past Sunday. Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins combined for the three goals bringing their total to 11 on the season. The only other player to score for Seattle this season is Lamar Neagle with two.
This week, Seattle is in Columbus for their annual meeting with the Crew. The Sounders are unbeaten in Columbus with a record of 3-1-0 at MAPFRE Stadium since they joined the league in 2009. Seattle is also outscoring the Crew seven to one in those four games.
Something to watch for this week will be first-half goals by Seattle. 12 of their 16 goals against the Crew all-time have come in the first 45 minutes of the match. The last time Seattle scored in the second half against the Crew was back on August 27th, 2011 when Lamar Neagle scored in the 70th minute to give Seattle a 5-1 lead. Seattle would get another goal in the 74th minute but it was an own goal from the Crew’s Josh Gardiner.
The Sounders are currently on a three-game winning streak.
2. New England Revolution
5-2-2, 17 pts
96/120
Two First-Place Votes
Who is the hottest team in Major League Soccer right now? The answer to that is the New England Revolution. The Revs are on a three-game winning streak and have earned points in each of their last seven matches. They are outscoring their opponents 12 to 3 in those seven matches.
The Revs find themselves on the road against expansion side Orlando City SC on Friday night. The recipe for a big win in New England’s favor could be in store as the Revs have excelled in recent contests away from Gillette Stadium. Couple that with the struggles of Orlando City at home (one point from four matches) and we could see a lopsided match at the Citrus Bowl.
3. DC United
5-2-1, 17 pts
90/120
Two First-Place Votes
RFK Stadium is becoming something of a fortress for DC United this seasons. United is 3-2-0 at home with all three victories coming as shutouts. Their most recent win came last weekend over the Columbus Crew courtesy of goals from Fabian Espindola and Sean Franklin.
This week brings Sporting Kansas City to RFK for a showdown of former Eastern Conference foes. United has won two of the last three meetings with Sporting at RFK Stadium. They have an overall advantage of 13 wins to six all-time over Sporting at RFK.
4. FC Dallas
5-2-2, 17 pts
84/120
One First-Place Vote
The biggest question for FC Dallas coming into their match against the LA Galaxy this weekend is which team will show up? Will the high-octane offense that scored three goals against Sporting Kansas City and Toronto FC as well as four goals last Friday night against Houston Dynamo show up? Or will the lackluster defense displayed in a 3-1 loss to Portland Timbers and the 4-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids appear?
If you were to go by the numbers, it would appear to be the high-octane offense as Oscar Pareja’s men have scored eight goals in their last three matches. Midfielder Fabian Castillo is the player to watch as he is an early MVP candidate. Castillo has tallied four goals and five assists in nine appearances this season.
5. New York Red Bulls
3-4-1, 13 pts
73/120
The New York Red Bulls are coming into Sunday’s Hudson River Derby clash with New York City FC off of their first loss of the season. They fell 2-1 to the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium last Saturday. It the end of a stretch of three matches in six days for the Red Bulls which included 1-1 draws against the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids.
The Red Bulls will need to make sure they capitalize on their chances. This match will not be easy for them for two reasons. First, derby matches can bring out crazy moments that no one saw coming. Second, NYCFC is desperate for a win. They have lost three consecutive matches and have not tasted victory since March 15th.
6. Vancouver Whitecaps
5-2-3, 17 pts
62/120
The Vancouver Whitecaps regained the lead atop of the 2015 Cascadia Cup standings with a 0-0 draw against the Portland Timbers last weekend at Providence Park. Vancouver has struggled lately to generate any goals with only two in their last four matches. They scored nine goals in their first six matches of the season.
This weekend could be a blessing for the Whitecaps as they welcome in the Philadelphia Union to BC Place. The Union are on a three-match losing streak and just seem to be a mess. They are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference above the Montreal Impact by four points but the Impact hold SIX matches in hand.
Despite the struggles for the Union, the Whitecaps cannot take this match lightly. They do have an impending Cascadia Cup match with the Seattle Sounders next weekend.
7. Columbus Crew SC
3-2-3, 11 pts
41/120
Columbus comes into their home game with the Seattle Sounders off of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of DC United at RFK Stadium. The road has not been too kind to the Crew as they have earned two points in four matches and are being out scored five to two.
At home in a completely different story for the Crew as they are 3-0-1 with 10 goals scored and only three allowed. They have scored at least twice in all of their wins at home including their last two, a 3-0 win over Orlando City and a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. Can they keep up this offensive outburst against one of the best teams in the Western Conference? We’ll find out on Saturday night.
8. LA Galaxy
3-5-2, 14 pts
40/120
LA Galaxy has played very well lately considering their injury situation. Thankfully for them Robbie Keane should be able to return soon even possible for their next road match at Orlando City on May 17th. Keane has missed the last six matches but the Galaxy have been able to secure points in five of those.
They were unlucky to leave Rio Tinto Stadium with only a point on Wednesday night as Nick Rimando came up big in the 90th minute stopping a Juninho penalty kick to keep the score at 0-0. LA is still looking to find their first road win of the season; they will have their hands full with a very tough FC Dallas team from Frisco, Texas on Saturday night.
9. Sporting Kansas City
3-4-2, 13 pts
34/120
The road has not been kind to Sporting Kansas City so far in 2015. In four games, they only have one win (March 28th over NYCFC), a draw (4-4 with the Houston Dynamo), and two losses (FC Dallas and LA Galaxy). This week they travel to RFK Stadium for a match with DC United at a venue that has not been kind to them. Sporting has six wins all-time at RFK Stadium in their 25 trips to the historic venue.
Sporting is looking for their first win at RKD since March 10, 2012 when they beat DC United 1-0 on a second-half stoppage time winner from C.J. Sapong. The biggest key for Sporting will be getting out of the first thirty minutes without allowing a goal, they have allowed five during that time already in 2014.
10. San Jose Earthquakes
4-1-4, 13 pts
12/120
The San Jose Earthquakes are finishing off a three-match in seven-day road trip with a visit to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. So far, the Earthquakes have earned four points and they will look to make it seven against the Rapids. San Jose will be without Innocent Emeghara for upwards of six months after surgery to repair a torn meniscus this week.
San Jose has been very successful at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with points in their last six visits. They have not lost since November 13th, 2010 at the venue. Considering that the Rapids have not won in their previous ten matches at home, it is a good bet that the Earthquakes will leave with at least a point on Friday night.