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All hail our new overlord, the Leagues Cup. The first annual tournament between MLS and Liga MX clubs is here, forcing a month-long break from the MLS regular season. But before we get to the new competition and the brand new, certainly not well worn debates about whether MLS has really made up ground on Liga MX, what it says about American soccer culture, crowd splits and, at its core, whether it’s a worthwhile tournament at all, we had a packed week of MLS play.
Who shone bright? Who is thankful to get a break and regroup a month from now? Let’s rank the teams as the regular season takes a pause:
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Previous ranking: 1
The Garys weren’t scintillating against RBNY, but a win is a win and the way they dismantled Nashville was a statement. When the attack is flowing, there is no doubt who the best team in the league is.
Previous ranking: 4
A small skid had us questioning whether the Union’s revival was fool’s gold, but the way they dismissed Nashville and NYCFC last week has us back on the Philly bandwagon. This team still has a little bit more to go, but they are a bonafide contender.
Previous ranking: 3
If nothing else, the Crew will deliver entertainment. The way Lucas Zelarayan led a fight back from 2-0 down to get level in Portland was thrilling, but that didn’t mean much to Columbus when they conceded a late winner. It sure satiated the neutrals, though.
Previous ranking: 2
If last week was a test for NSC, they failed. Philly and Cincy is a brutal pair of opponents for a team in a single week, but they got their chance against two of the best in the East and, to quote A Knight’s Tale’s Count Adhemar, “You have been weighed, you have been measured and you have been found wanting.” Hopefully, they come back after the Leagues Cup looking…
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