MLSnet.com Power Rankings: Week 6

Wizards continue rise up chart while Dynamo, Red Bulls take big leaps

By MLSnet.com Editorial Staff

Aaron Hohlbein (left), Jimmy Conrad (back) and K.C. are stalking the Fire and others. (B. Kersey/Getty)

Week 5 was marked by a succession of last-minute successes -- and heartbreak -- with the authors of the most dramatic story of the week finding themselves as the newest entrant into the top five in the MLSnet.com Power Rankings.

Chivas USA defended their No. 1 ranking with a convincing home victory over Seattle Sounders FC, but the team of the week just might be the Kansas City Wizards, who came from two goals down in the 78th minute to earn a draw on the road with a stunned Chicago Fire side. The inspiring rally came on the back of the Wizards' upset of then-unbeaten Seattle at Qwest Field. The plucky group from Kansas City now find themselves not only hanging with the MLS elite, but in a position to potentially surpass them both in the MLS standings and Power Rankings.

Houston, New York and FC Dallas all had much to celebrate in Week 5, as the three sides each picked up their first victories of the season, with the Dynamo and Red Bulls seeing great rewards in the Power Rankings for their breakthrough performances. Those performances meant bad news for the Columbus Crew and LA Galaxy, however, as the two remaining winless clubs plummeted to the lower rung of this week's rankings.

With all the risers and fallers in mind, 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.

Rank	Last	Team	Breakdown
1	1		After a convincing victory over Seattle, there is no doubt that the MLS table-toppers also deserve to top the Power Rankings. The Red-and-White have been fueled by a seemingly endless line of emerging difference makers, with midfielder Chukwudi Chijindu the latest to highlight Chivas' infinitely growing depth.
2	2		Up two goals at home in the 78th minute, the Fire needed to close out the Wizards on Saturday. Putting the nightmare finish in the rearview mirror though, Chicago fans have to be encouraged by the performance of Cuauhtemoc Blanco, who had easily his best game of the season in his return to Denis Hamlett's starting XI.
3	4		Only a Ben Olsen stoppage time goal kept the Revs from gaining a full three points on Friday night and taking over the Eastern Conference lead. Their unbeaten record could be in danger this weekend with a trip to Rio Tinto Stadium, but a big boost is on the way with the likely return of goalkeeper Matt Reis to the lineup.
4	3		Sigi Schmid admitted after Saturday's loss to Chivas that the Sounders FC attack has not been as potent since Freddie Ljungberg became entrenched in the lineup as it was in the first two weeks, when Steve Zakuani, Sebastien Le Toux and Sanna Nyassi provided a spark from the wings. Defining Ljungberg's role will be crucial.
5	6		The Wizards are developing a bit of a reputation as road warriors in the early season, with a victory over Seattle at Qwest Field and now a rousing comeback against Chicago at Toyota Park. With two matches this week (vs. New York, at Toronto), the Wizards actually have a shot to emerge atop the Eastern Conference table.
6	5		The curse of New York rages on. Even as RSL reach the cusp of becoming an elite MLS side, their inability to get by the Red Bulls continues to be a thorn in their side. What RSL can do this weekend, for the second time this year, is hand an unbeaten team its first defeat as the New England Revolution come to town.
7	7		A pair of phenomenal saves by Houston's Pat Onstad -- including one on a Conor Casey penalty kick -- kept Colorado from an unbeaten three-game road swing. Back at Dick's Sporting Goods Park this weekend, the Rapids have a chance to start climbing the Western Conference standings again with a clash against the Galaxy.
8	8		After rescuing a point against New England, another rivalry match looms for United as they take a ride up to New York to face the Red Bulls on Sunday. It's not always pretty, but somehow D.C. keeps finding a way to get results. If Christian Gomez can get going they'll be able to add a bit more stability to their attack.
9	12		It took them five matches, but the Dynamo finally have their first victory of the season. Considering that it took them seven matches a year ago, they're actually ahead of their 2008 Western Conference table-topping pace. Most encouraging for Houston was the pressure its attack put on the Rapids for much of their Sunday match.
10	15		So much for cellar-dwelling. After falling to No. 15 in the rankings a week ago, the Red Bulls leap up five spots this week after their shutout victory over RSL. Buoyed by Jon Conway's return in goal, the Red Bulls attack seemed much more willing to push forward, with Macoumba Kandji most notably making an impact up front.
11	9		Coming away with one point from a home-and-home series with FC Dallas is probably not good news for Toronto FC. What is good news, however, is that five of their next six matches will come in the cozy confines of BMO Field, including two matches this week, Wednesday with Chivas USA and Sunday against Kansas City.
12	11		Gut check time is coming for the Earthquakes, who face two difficult league matchups in the next two weeks, first going on the road to Seattle, then welcoming Chivas USA to Buck Shaw Stadium. Their performance in those two matches could go a long way toward determining how competitive San Jose can be in 2009.
13	10		The Crew had the week off, but with the Dynamo, Red Bulls and FC Dallas all gaining their first victories of the season, Columbus falls down the rankings. However, the bye week will likely leave the Crew with their first-choice lineup for the first time all season when they face the Fire in an Eastern Conference Championship rematch.
14	14		With results in back-to-back matches and their first victory of the season under their belts, FC Dallas now face a stiff challenge in the form of a trip to Los Angeles to face Chivas USA. The FCD attack had the breakout performance it was waiting for against Toronto, but will need to be even better against the Red-and-White defense.
15	13		The Galaxy are now just one of two winless teams remaining, along with Columbus, but they've also lost just one match all season. They can avenge that defeat this weekend as they get Gregg Berhalter and Alan Gordon back from red card suspension for a road clash with the Rapids, to whom they fell in Week 3.