Chivas USA have torn through the MLS landscape over their first nine matches of the season. Similarly, D.C. United have experienced a resurgence, storming to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Now, it's time for these two freight trains to meet head on.
In what is sure to be one of the most revealing matches thus far of the 2009 season, the respective leaders of the Eastern and Western Conferences clash at The Home Depot Center this weekend as United visit the Red-and-White. Chivas will be in their comfort zone, playing in a stadium where they've yet to lose, or even draw, this season. A United team playing the best it has all season, however, will present arguably their toughest test yet.
For the Black-and-Red, the match represents a major checkpoint in their season. Coming into the season, many observers were not quite sure what to make of United, boasting yet another reworked backline and a midfield filled with questions about the returning Christian Gomez and Ben Olsen. Well, the pieces have fallen into place about as well as United could hope they would, and suddenly they once again look like the team that has been an MLS Cup contender nearly every season of their existence.
So, what does it mean for the MLSnet.com Power Rankings? Well, depending on how things shake out on Saturday night, the Week 10 rankings could take a drastically different shape.
Here's a look at the latest MLSnet.com Power Rankings. As always, these rankings don't reflect any official stance of Major League Soccer.
MLSnet.com Power Rankings archive
MLSnet.com Power Rankings: Week 9
MLSnet.com Power Rankings: Week 8
MLSnet.com Power Rankings: Week 7
MLSnet.com Power Rankings: Week 6
MLSnet.com Power Rankings: Week 5
MLSnet.com Power Rankings: Week 4
Rank |
Last |
Team |
Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
<font size="5"><b>1</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>1</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/cdc_md_gray.jpg" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
Last year's Red-and-White side finished the season with 43 points. Through just nine games this year they're already more than halfway to that total. This Saturday's much-anticipated clash with Eastern Conference leaders D.C. United offers Chivas an opportunity to put a stranglehold on the rest of the league. |
<font size="5"><b>2</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>2</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/sea_md.gif" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
Minus Fredy Montero and playing a man down, Sounders FC struggled to find the production they've grown used to from their attack against the Galaxy. Montero will, however, be back in action on Saturday, facing a suspect FC Dallas defense as he looks to find the net for the first time since March 28 against Real Salt Lake. |
<font size="5"><b>3</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>3</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/chi_md_gray.jpg" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
If ties, like they say, are like kissing your sister, then the Fire must be dying to get away from their siblings. They may be the only unbeaten team left in MLS, but after five consecutive draws the Fire find themselves winless since April 5. Eventually Chicago is going to have to start turning some of those draws into victories. |
<font size="5"><b>4</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>4</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/dcu_md.gif" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
A five-match unbeaten streak has catapulted United to the top of the Eastern Conference, but they'll face their biggest challenge of the season on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center. D.C.'s attack, which has come to life in recent weeks, will especially be put to the test against a defense that's allowed a league-low three goals. |
<font size="5"><b>5</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>5</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/tfc_md_gray.jpg" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
Dwayne De Rosario made his impact on the Reds very apparent in his return to the starting lineup against United. His return does, however, make Danny Dichio's role more unclear. It was Dichio's insertion into the lineup that sparked the TFC attack. Now the big man looks to be once again reduced to a reserve role. |
<font size="5"><b>6</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>9</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/hou_md.gif" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
Like Calvin Borel riding Mine That Bird on a furious run along the inside rail, the Dynamo are making their move toward the front of the MLS pack. Their winning streak now stands at three. Up next is a return match with New York, against whom tensions flared in a fiery April 11 clash that saw both Carlos Johnson and Mike Chabala sent off. |
<font size="5"><b>7</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>6</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/cor_md_gray.jpg" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
With just one road victory on their record thus far this season, the Rapids will be looking to boost their mark away from Dick's Sporting Goods Park when they face the Revs in New England this weekend. Keep an eye on the Rapids' goalkeeping situation, where Matt Pickens continues to compete with the surprising Preston Burpo. |
<font size="5"><b>8</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>7</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/kcw_md.gif" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
The Wizards have continued to play well week-in and week-out, but they now find themselves in the midst of a three-match winless streak. The road in front of them won't get any easier in the next two weeks, first with a Saturday trip to the always-challenging Rio Tinto Stadium, followed by a date with the overall MLS leaders. |
<font size="5"><b>9</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>11</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/clb_md_gray.jpg" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
It's celebration time in Columbus, as the Crew have finally left the land of the winless, and are also now unbeaten in their past four matches. The Crew midfield, so important to the club's success a year ago, is now coming to life, with Emmanuel Ekpo providing a big spark to the attack since moving to the right side two weeks ago. |
<font size="5"><b>10</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>10</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/ner_md.gif" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
The Revolution attack had been struggling in recent weeks and they had been drastically underutilizing Shalrie Joseph in the midfield. Thus, Nicol's move of Joseph to the frontline proved to be a stroke of genius. Even with Steve Ralston back and Taylor Twellman getting close, the Revs must keep funneling the ball through Joseph. |
<font size="5"><b>11</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>8</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/rsl_md_gray.jpg" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
Winless in all competitions and looking sluggish in their past four matches, RSL have plummeted down the Power Rankings. Jason Kreis switched to a 4-5-1 formation to try to spice things up against Chivas last week, but benching Robbie Findley, who has been RSL's best player in attack all season, was a bit of a head scratcher. |
<font size="5"><b>12</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>12</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/lag_md.gif" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
They may have been a man up, but earning a point at Qwest Field, where only one other visiting team has earned any type of result, was a terrific sign for the Galaxy. LA is now unbeaten in its past six matches. One challenge for Bruce Arena will be finding a way to spark the attack within his defensively focused lineup. |
<font size="5"><b>13</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>14</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/rbn_md_gray.jpg" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
The Red Bulls' breakout performance against San Jose was desperately needed and long overdue. Perhaps the most important change for the Red Bulls was Albert Celades, whose deep balls enabled both Jorge Rojas and Macoumba Kandji to push forward in attack and give Juan Pablo Angel the help he's needed up front. |
<font size="5"><b>14</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>15</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/fcd_md.gif" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
Schellas Hyndman looked to shake things up against Houston, particularly on the defensive end, where rookie George John and the returning Steve Purdy played well in the middle. To spark the attack, Hyndman will need to find more consistent service for Kenny Cooper, particularly from Andre Rocha on the right side. |
<font size="5"><b>15</b></font> |
<font size="5"><b>13</b></font> |
<img src="/imgs/logos/sje_md_gray.jpg" height="55" width="55" border="1"> |
Things could not have gone much worse for the Earthquakes in New York. Without Jason Hernandez and Ryan Cochrane, their backline was easily pierced by the Red Bulls attack. Without Darren Huckerby, their attack failed to create any type of consistent pressure. Needless to say, the Quakes have a lot of work to do in their off week. |
