Week 17 was another exciting week of MLS action, even as the World Cup break meant a reduced schedule. Here are the Week 17 power rankings.

The World Cup groups stages are almost complete. Some teams are looking secured of a knockout round berth while others are eliminated with a game to go. With one-third of the season gone, each MLS team’s realistic season expectations are becoming more defined.

The transfer window opens next week and that will shift things around a little. Does your team need players to salvage a season or to bolster a playoff contender? But the tiers of teams are beginning to become clearer and clearer.

Here are the Week 17 power rankings.

Hope dissipates

23 San Jose EarthQuakes 2-9-5 Last week: 1-1 Tie @ Real Salt Lake

Last rank: 22 The Earthquakes were able to tame the first half of an away game, then the second half became frantic. The Earthquakes are lucky to have won a point, surviving an extra-time shot from Real Salt Lake that hit the bar, meanwhile, Tarbell should stop knocking balls directly into the stands. The Earthquakes missed several chances with overloaded sides to counter because of Tarbell’s passing being yards off the mark. The wayward passing could be excused since Tarbell was constantly under pressure. San Jose allowed 27 shots and had to clear 23 crosses into the box. Not good.

22 Colorado Rapids 3-9-3 Last week: 3-2 Win vs Minnesota United

Last rank: 23 The Rapids were playing well enough to deserve a tie when Joe Mason squared the game in the 74th minute. With Mason’s first touch, he looked to give the Rapids their second point in the last ten games. But then Tommy Smith’s header from a Gashi corner stole three points. In 20 minutes, Gashi changed the look of the Rapids attack and the balance of the game. Before then, it was again Edgar Castillo running the attack from the wingback position. Tim Howard has had better games.

21 Seattle Sounders 3-8-3 Last week: 1-1 Tie vs Chicago Fire

Last rank: 19 Clint Dempsey finally scored an MLS league goal for the season and the Sounders fought back for a point. Not only that they did so valiantly, but they did so with style. The movement through the build-up play leading to Dempsey’s goal was inspiring. The Sounders are capable of decent spells of passing and created chances this game. They completed 500 passes exactly with more than half coming in the Chicago half. But their season is over before it ever really got begun. Home points will come with better finishing on their 18 shots.