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This was the big one. Yeah, the Rapids have been struggling and they’re not the same team they were last year (yet), but going to DSG Park without your two big-name DPs and starting 'keeper, and waltzing out with a 3-1 win? Emphatic statement from the Galaxy, who are odds-on favorites to repeat as Shield champs. Last Week: Beat Colorado, 3-1 (RECAP/WATCH)

Beat Colorado, 3-1 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday at San Jose (6:30 pm, Fox Soccer)

Saturday at San Jose (6:30 pm, Fox Soccer) Last Five: WWTTW

2 3 Schellas Hyndman’s team is still coming together. The pieces don’t quite fit just yet, but they’re getting results along the way. It took a communication breakdown in the Chivas defense this time, but teams that cause pressure tend to make that sort of luck. This team should keep getting better as the season progresses. Last Week: Beat Chivas USA, 2-1 (RECAP/WATCH)

Beat Chivas USA, 2-1 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday vs. Portland (8:30 pm, MatchDay Live)

Saturday vs. Portland (8:30 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: WTWLW

3 4 The indelible image from NY’s weekend will be Thierry Henry sarcastically shaking hands with Ricardo Salazar after his late red card. Which, as you may have heard, was a bit of a debatable call. But the real hero was Dwayne De Rosario, who dragged himself all over the continent but still had enough energy to both create and score the equalizer. Last Week: Tied Portland, 3-3 (RECAP/WATCH)

Tied Portland, 3-3 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Thursday at Seattle (10 pm, ESPN2), Sunday at Chicago (2 pm ET, ESPN)

Thursday at Seattle (10 pm, ESPN2), Sunday at Chicago (2 pm ET, ESPN) Last Five: TTTWT

4 2 You have to wonder why Peter Nowak doesn’t start his best forward, and why he’d ever go with the double d-mid set-up of Brian Carroll and Stefani Miglioranzi. The Union almost never look dangerous when those two guys are on the field together and when Mwanga’s on the bench. Time to double-down on the attack. Last Week: Lost at Vancouver, 1-0, (RECAP/WATCH)

Lost at Vancouver, 1-0, (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Wednesday vs. Sporting KC (7:30 pm, MatchDay Live), Saturday vs. Chivas USA (7:30 pm, MatchDay Live)

Wednesday vs. Sporting KC (7:30 pm, MatchDay Live), Saturday vs. Chivas USA (7:30 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: WWTTL

5 6 Getting a last-gasp 1-0 win over a struggling Toronto side isn’t the way to etch your name permanently into the “contenders” category, but three points on the road is three points on the road. You can’t argue with it. Seattle are now unbeaten in four and have one of the league’s better goal differentials. Last Week: Beat Toronto, 1-0 (RECAP/WATCH)

Beat Toronto, 1-0 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Thursday vs. New York (10 pm, ESPN2), Sunday vs. New England (4 pm, MatchDay Live)

Thursday vs. New York (10 pm, ESPN2), Sunday vs. New England (4 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: LWTTW

6 5 They gave up a late lead at home, but we can’t really fault them too much, though it needs to be said: Charlie Davies’ dive is exhibit A in “Why it’s almost always a bad idea for a defender to attempt a slide tackle in the box.” Whether Chris Wingert touched him or not (c’mon, he didn’t), it’s always a risk. Last Week: Tied D.C. United, 1-1 (RECAP/WATCH)

Tied D.C. United, 1-1 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Wednesday at Chicago (8 pm, MatchDay Live), Saturday vs. Toronto (9:30 pm, MatchDay Live)

Wednesday at Chicago (8 pm, MatchDay Live), Saturday vs. Toronto (9:30 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: LWLTT

7 9 The Crew have been rolling since Bizarro Warzycha started playing his youngsters and Bizarro Mendoza started scoring. Rich Balchan looks like a long-term solution at defensive midfield, Bernardo Anor and Justin Meram have provided a real spark and the defense is as solid as ever. And this was supposed to be a “rebuilding year.” Last Week: Beat Houston, 2-0 (RECAP/WATCH)

Beat Houston, 2-0 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday vs Colorado (8 pm, MatchDay Live)

Saturday vs Colorado (8 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: TTWLW

8 7 They probably won’t give up an own goal and a golazo every week, but the energy and toughness that defined last season’s Rapids team is largely missing in 2011. As Omar Cummings and Conor Casey return to full health, maybe it’ll come back. But it’s not a sure thing, and the Shield may already be out of reach. Last Week: Lost to LA, 3-1 (RECAP/WATCH)

Lost to LA, 3-1 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Sunday at Columbus (8 pm, MatchDay Live)

Sunday at Columbus (8 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: TTTWL

9 8 The offense dried up in a hurry once the Quakes ran into a back line they couldn’t dominate physically. Frank Yallop’s challenge will be figuring out how to get Steven Lenhart, Simon Dawkins and Chris Wondolowski all on the pitch together at the same time in the coming weeks, and making sure the defense holds firm. Last Week: Lost to Sporting KC, 1-0 (RECAP/WATCH)

Lost to Sporting KC, 1-0 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday vs. LA (6:30 pm, Fox Soccer)

Saturday vs. LA (6:30 pm, Fox Soccer) Last Five: WTWWL

10 15 SKC haven’t lost in a long time and are slowly limping their way up the table. Their goal difference suggests more victories are to come, as does the change from the sieve-like 4-3-3 that Peter Vermes insisted upon during their epic road trip. Now how to get the offense firing consistently like it did in that Dallas game... Last Week: Beat San Jose, 1-0 (RECAP/WATCH)

Beat San Jose, 1-0 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week : Wednesday at Philadelphia (7:30 pm, MatchDay Live), Saturday vs. Vancouver (8:30 pm, MatchDay Live)

Wednesday at Philadelphia (7:30 pm, MatchDay Live), Saturday vs. Vancouver (8:30 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: TTTWW

11 12 “All goals are beautiful” is what they say, and we at the Power Rankings Committee are certain that DC fans will feel that way about Davies’ late PK. But we were more impressed with the series of almost-goals United had from the run of play, including a pair of pinged crossbars from Chris Pontius. More, and better, to come from this side. Last Week: Tied Real Salt Lake, 1-1 (RECAP/WATCH)

Tied Real Salt Lake, 1-1 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday vs. Houston (6 pm, MatchDay Live)

Saturday vs. Houston (6 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: TWTLT

12 13 The refrain from Portland after Sunday’s epic draw with New York was that the “second half showed what we’re capable of.” For good and for bad, as it turns out: They came back from a one-goal deficit, then coughed up a two-goal lead themselves. More discipline and compactness in defense is badly needed. Last Week: Tied New York, 3-3 (RECAP/WATCH)

Tied New York, 3-3 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday at FC Dallas (8:30 pm, MatchDay Live)

Saturday at FC Dallas (8:30 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: WLLLT

13 10 What is with this team? A group that has so many big, tough players shouldn’t be so soft. Whether it’s a lack of veteran leadership or just not enough focus — particularly from the back line — it’s tough to say, but Houston’s first half of the season is solidly disappointing. Last Week: Lost to Columbus, 2-0 (RECAP/WATCH)

Lost to Columbus, 2-0 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday at D.C. United (6 pm, MatchDay Live)

Saturday at D.C. United (6 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: LTLWL

14 11 Two straight losses have taken the shine off what was an impressive May, but this is still a team in rebuilding mode that’s missing a bunch of regulars. That said, they have to figure out how to stop conceding soft goals and get back to willing themselves to victory. Last Week: Lost to FC Dallas, 2-1 (RECAP/WATCH)

Lost to FC Dallas, 2-1 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday at Philadelphia (7:30 pm, MatchDay Live)

Saturday at Philadelphia (7:30 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: TTWLL

15 14 The Fire are yet another team that haven’t lost in an eternity, but they didn’t quite have what it takes to get themselves a winning streak, either. Part of that is getting used to a new system, part missing Marco Pappa, and part team selection. At some point, Orr Barouch and Corben Bone have to become regulars or Chicago have no creativity. Last Week: Tied New England, 1-1 (RECAP/WATCH)

Tied New England, 1-1 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Wednesday vs. Real Salt Lake (8 pm, MatchDay Live), Sunday vs. New York (2 pm ET, ESPN)

Wednesday vs. Real Salt Lake (8 pm, MatchDay Live), Sunday vs. New York (2 pm ET, ESPN) Last Five: TTTWT

16 18 After the week the city of Vancouver has had, it’s nice to see them turn up on the right side of a sports story. The ‘Caps are still strugglers and look very unlikely to compete for a playoff spot, but they’re playing solid soccer now and there’s every reason to think that it’ll continue through the summer. Last Week: Beat Philadelphia, 1-0 (RECAP/WATCH)

Beat Philadelphia, 1-0 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Saturday at Sporting KC (8:30 pm, MatchDay Live)

Saturday at Sporting KC (8:30 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: TTLTW

17 17 They were one blown offside trap away from walking out of another home game pointless. Benny Feilhaber can’t get healthy quick enough, and the Revs best make good on the talk of a summertime signing or their season will go nowhere. If you can’t put the ball in the net, you can’t win.

Last Week: Tied Toronto, 0-0 (RECAP/WATCH) Tied Chicago, 1-1 (RECAP/WATCH)

Tied Toronto, 0-0 (RECAP/WATCH) Tied Chicago, 1-1 (RECAP/WATCH) This Week: Sunday at Seattle (4 pm, MatchDay Live)

Sunday at Seattle (4 pm, MatchDay Live) Last Five: WLLLL