The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 5
We are two weeks away from applying the Forge Factor; 14 teams have not yet played 5 games and of those Rhode Island FC will not play in Week 6 and will already be on 2 byes this season.
In Week 5 a total of 6 teams were on a bye, so there is quite a bit of movement around them. There were also some pretty wild results, including the surprising fall of the last perfect team left. Some things are stabilizing already but others remain totally unsettled. This is shaping up to be the most unpredictable Championship season in quite a while.
| Rank | Team Name | Previous | Change | Record | Note | This Week |
| 1 | Louisville City | 2 | 1 | 3-0-2 | Lou City were held at bay by Sacramento keeper Danny Vitiello until the last gasp to get the 1-1 draw. Overall the game was very balanced and the final score was fair. | Bye |
| 2 | Monterey Bay FC | 3 | 1 | 3-1-1 | Monterey Bay went to the very tough Keyworth Stadium and came away with a well-played 0-0 draw. 2nd in the West now and looking utterly unlike previous incarnations. | v. Colorado Springs |
| 3 | North Carolina FC | 4 | 1 | 2-1-2 | On the back foot all game North Carolina clawed back late from a 2-goal deficit to draw with Indy away. A young team but they are making statements that they are not to be discounted. | @ New Mexico |
| 4 | New Mexico United | 6 | 2 | 3-1-0 | New Mexico United were on a bye this week. | v. North Carolina |
| 5 | San Antonio | 1 | -4 | 4-1-0 | San Antonio were probably not expecting to end their perfect season against Phoenix but that’s what happened in the wildest game of the weekend. The 1-2 loss could have been worse but still leaves them clear at the top of the East | v. Miami |
| 6 | Loudoun United | 5 | -1 | 4-1-0 | Loudoun didn’t need 2 reds to overwhelm Hartford but they didn’t hurt. The 2-0 win was a cruise and they now sit top of the East. This team is now very dangerous. | @ Tampa Bay |
| 7 | FC Tulsa | 8 | 1 | 3-1-0 | FC Tulsa were on a bye this week. | v. Oakland |
| 8 | Sacramento Republic | 7 | -1 | 1-1-2 | Sacramento’s 1-1 draw with Louisville came with a 98th minute equalizer, the 4th late goal given up in 3 games. The Republic is wasting points and needs to finish out games better. | @ Orange County |
| 9 | Phoenix Rising | 21 | 12 | 1-2-2 | The Rising got their first lead of the season on a 60th minute PK only to give it up 3 minutes later on another PK and then to get the lead back another 4 minutes later. Getting the first win of the season in San Antonio will give them a huge boost. | v. Detroit |
| 10 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 9 | -1 | 1-1-2 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks were on a bye this week. | @ Monterey |
| 11 | Charleston Battery | 16 | 5 | 2-2-0 | The Battery beat Tampa Bay 2-1 although it could have been a wider margin. Just the second win of the season but getting better. The icing: former Rowdie Cal Jennings scored a PK. | v. Pittsburgh |
| 12 | El Paso Locomotive | 18 | 6 | 2-1-2 | El Paso has scored 10 goals, more than any other team, but has just a +1 GD. All attack, defense optional. Fun to watch though. The 2-1 win over Lexington was yet another tight contest. | @ Birmingham |
| 13 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 12 | -1 | 2-1-1 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds were on a bye this week. | @ Charleston |
| 14 | Detroit City | 11 | -3 | 2-1-2 | Detroit played to a very even 0-0 draw with Monterey Bay. 2 points from the last 3 games after a hot start. This team is still a contender but needs to get back on track. | @ Phoenix |
| 15 | Las Vegas Lights | 14 | -1 | 2-1-1 | The Lights and Orange County played to a standoff before Nighte Pickering scored in the 93rd minute. La Vegas does not appear to be quite as strong this year so far and has struggled to get results. | @ Lexington |
| 16 | Indy Eleven | 10 | -6 | 1-1-2 | Indy dominated statistically but still needed an own goal in the 2-2 draw with North Carolina. This team still looks like it is trying to find its identity. | @ Hartford |
| 17 | Rhode Island FC | 24 | 7 | 1-2-1 | Rhode Island got its scoring boots on finally and pummeled Oakland for 3 first half goals and could have scored a few ore in the second. First win of the season and in better shape now. | Bye |
| 18 | Birmingham Legion | 17 | -1 | 0-2-2 | Birmingham Legion were on a bye this week. | v. El Paso |
| 19 | Lexington SC | 13 | -6 | 1-2-2 | Lexington’s hot start is fading into the background. 2 straight losses now and they beginning to fall behind a bit. El Paso was the better team in the 1-2 loss if only slightly. | v. Las Vegas |
| 20 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 20 | 0 | 1-3-0 | The Rowdies’ 1-2 loss in Charleston added to their woes with a very poor start to the season. The only win so far was over Miami last week. That’s not optimal. | v. Loudoun |
| 21 | Orange County | 15 | -6 | 1-2-1 | Orange County had just 1 shot on goal all game but came within seconds of drawing in Las Vegas before disaster struck. A win over Oakland is the club’s only victory this season. | v. Sacramento |
| 22 | Oakland Roots | 19 | -3 | 0-4-1 | Oakland has 1 point from 5 games. The 0-3 loss to Rhode Island was a litany of defensive disasters accompanied by just 1 shot on target. Most goals allowed and worst GD. Not good. | @ Tulsa |
| 23 | Hartford Athletic | 23 | 0 | 0-4-0 | Hartford has 1 goal in 4 games – fewer than anyone else – and no points. The latest 0-2 home loss to Loudoun was a debacle and they next play without Adrian Diz Pe and Beverly Makangila due to red cards. | v. Indy |
| 24 | The Miami FC | 22 | -2 | 0-4-0 | The Miami FC were on a bye this week. | @ San Antonio |
