The SB Nation soccer editors have run our MLS Power Rankings for over 20 weeks now and it's rare that we have a week where not a single teams changes tiers. This was one of those rare instances with only slight movements within the tiers. The most notable move was probably that of the Columbus Crew who actually caught the Philadelphia Union with five first-tier votes.
Major League Soccer Power Rankings, Week 20: Columbus Crew Continue Ascension
About six weeks after nearly falling into the fourth tier, the Crew are shooting up our charts.
It is worth pointing out that as recently as our June 13 poll, the Crew were near the bottom of tier 3, with several voters pondering if they weren't closer to the Vancouver Whitecaps of the league than potential Eastern Conference contenders.
| Playing For The Shield | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Los Angeles Galaxy |  100% (57 out of 57 points) |
 | FC Dallas | 100% (57 out of 57 points) |
 | Real Salt Lake | 92% (53 out of 57 points) |
 | Seattle Sounders | 87% (50 out of 57 points) |
The Sounders were dropped from the top tier by six voters, but remain solidly in this group, although it now seems as if FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy have opened up a significant gap in the minds of many of our voters. It is interesting that our voters were not as bothered by Real Salt Lake’s loss at home as they were by the Sounders’ loss on the road.
| Enjoy The Playoffs | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Philadelphia Union | 75% (43 out of 57 points) |
 | Columbus Crew | 75% (43 out of 57 points) |
 | New York Red Bulls | 61% (35 out of 57 points) |
 | Colorado Rapids | 61% (35 out of 57 points) |
 | Sporting Kansas City | 59% (34 out of 57 points) |
Only the Union lost any kind of significant support in this group, as they lost at home for the first time. Interestingly, our voters were not particularly inclined to give much added credit to the team that beat them, the Colorado Rapids. Coming off a huge road win for them, the Rapids only picked up one vote.
| Still Something To Prove | ||
|---|---|---|
 | DC United | 36% (21 out of 57 points) |
 | Houston Dynamo | 36% (21 out of 57 points) |
 | Chivas USA | 29% (17 out of 57 points) |
 | San Jose Earthquakes | 21% (12 out of 57 points) |
This group shrank by one team as the Portland Timbers continue their descent down our charts. The Earthquakes, too, are on the verge of no longer being considered playoff contenders. Just one voters considers them a playoff team, while eight of our voters believe they are now contending for the No. 2 draft pick.
| At Least There's No Relegation | ||
|---|---|---|
 | Portland Timbers | 8% (5 out of 57 points) |
 | Chicago Fire | 3% (2 out of 57 points) |
 | Toronto FC | 1% (1 out of 57 points) |
 | New England Revolution | 1% (1 out of 57 points) |
 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 0% (0 out of 57 points) |
Let us all welcome the Timbers to our bottom tier. Failing to win at home against Toronto FC is bound to cost you some support and just five of our voters continue to believe that this team is likely to make any kind of run toward the playoffs.
How It Works: Each of the 19 participants puts Major League Soccer’s clubs into one of the four tiers. Teams in the top tier get three points. Next tier, two points, then one, then zero. Voters can put as many teams into each tier as they see fit. Though the vote total orders the teams, the clubs are intended to be grouped, not sorted. Although some of the names may indicate otherwise, the point of this is to assess current form and our voters are instructed to place teams in tiers based how those teams will fair in coming weeks.
Who participated: Jeremiah Oshan (SB Nation, soccer); Kevin McCauley (SB Nation, soccer); Aaron Campeau (SB Nation, soccer); Ryan Rosenblatt (SB Nation, soccer); Drew Epperley (SB Nation, soccer); Steve Davis (Daily Soccer Fix); Martin Shatzer (Black and Red United); Scott Kessler (Brotherly Game); Zach Woosley (Dynamo Theory); Denzel Eslinger (RSL Soapbox); Robert Jonas (Quake, Rattle and Goal); Daniel Robertson (Big D Soccer); Dave Clark (Sounder at Heart); Sidereal ( Sounder at Heart), Duncan Fletcher (Waking the Red), Steve Stoehr (The Bent Musket); Tweed Thornton (Hot Time in Old Town), Ben Schneider (Once a Metro); Josie Becker (LAG Confidential) Alicia Ratterree (The Goat Parade).
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