If you like goals, this was the week for you. Across 13 games, 35 were scored. That’s 2.69 per game. Only one game ended without a score and 5 had 4 or more goals. In addition, some of the results were quite a surprise and 3 of the winners scored big with 33% or less possession. Finally, 3 teams got their first win. Because of all that and also because our Forge Factor algorithm finally comes into play with all teams now having played 5 games, there is quite a bit of movement in the Power Rankings this week.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Last 5 | Forge Factor | Note | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso Locomotive | 1 | 0 | 4-0-1 | TWWWW | 26.700 | The 4-0 shellacking of Hartford cemented the Locomotive’s position as the best team in the league. 14 goals in 5 games is downright scary. | @ Houstoniii, v. San Antonio |
| 2 | Orange County | 9 | +7 | 4-1-2 | WWLWW | 17.300 | OC has ridden its defense to the top of the West. 2-0 over San Antonio and 1-0 over Tulsa this week to make it 4 clean sheet wins. | v. Lexington |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2 | -1 | 4-0-1 | WWWWT | 16.833 | The last perfect season fell as the Rowdies drew 2-2 with Oakland. They have 2 defensive errors to blame for it as well. Still easily the best in the East. | @ Charleston |
| 4 | The Miami FC | 10 | +6 | 2-1-3 | TWWTT | 13.717 | Miami played down a man for 25 minutes but held on for the 0-0 draw in San Antonio and likely had the best chance of the game. Looking very good. | v. Phoenix |
| 5 | Detroit City | 12 | +7 | 3-1-1 | WLWTW | 12.683 | Darren Smith could hardly miss the 6th-minute goal, but Detroit was otherwise unable to penetrate a solid JAX defense. Not the most convincing win. | v. Chicagoii, @ Pittsburgh |
| 6 | Oakland Roots | 13 | +7 | 2-1-2 | WWTLT | 12.663 | Oakland came from behind quickly twice in the 2-2 draw in Tampa Bay, capitalizing on mistakes. Still in the mix but not outstanding yet. | v. Tulsa |
| 7 | Indy Eleven | 14 | +7 | 2-1-2 | LWTTW | 11.817 | How big is a 3-1 win over Monterey Bay? Maybe not very, but the Indy season has clearly improved after the week 1 loss to Brooklyn. They have yet to be really tested. | @ Birmingham |
| 8 | Sacramento Republic | 6 | -2 | 2-1-3 | TTLWT | 11.775 | SacRep were marginally the poorer side in the 1-1 draw in Las Vegas as the unpredictable season continues. They luckily get a bye after the marathon Open Cup loss yesterday. | v. Minnesotaii, Bye |
| 9 | Louisville City | 3 | -6 | 4-1-1 | WWWLT | 11.575 | Louisville and Loudoun decided defense was optional in a 3-3 goalfest. 2 surprise results on the trot after an impressive start. | @ Austini, v. JAX |
| 10 | Rhode Island FC | 23 | +13 | 1-2-2 | TLLTW | 11.092 | Rhode Island broke into the win column in grand fashion, beating Lexington away 3-1 despite ceding the bulk of possession. They get a rest this week. | @ New Englandii, Bye |
| 11 | Charleston Battery | 4 | -7 | 3-2-0 | WWLWL | 11.033 | A week after taking down Lou City, the Battery got thoroughly embarrassed in Brooklyn, losing 0-3. A schizophrenic season so far. | v. Tampa Bay |
| 12 | Phoenix Rising | 20 | +8 | 1-2-3 | TTTLW | 10.160 | Phoenix’ first win – 3-0 over New Mexico – came with relatively little effort on their part. The missed PK will be an issue though. | @ San Joseiii, @ Miami |
| 13 | New Mexico United | 7 | -6 | 2-3-0 | LLWWL | 10.155 | New Mexico followed two emphatic wins with a horrendous display in Phoenix for the 0-3 loss. This team is clearly struggling to find its identity. | Bye |
| 14 | FC Tulsa | 17 | +3 | 1-2-2 | LTWTL | 9.405 | Tulsa had over 68% possession but couldn’t do much with it, losing 0-1 at home to Orange County. A big reversal from last season. | @ St. Louisiii, @ Oakland |
| 15 | Las Vegas Lights | 21 | +6 | 1-3-2 | LLWLT | 8.733 | Virtually all the stats were identical so the 1-1 draw with Sacramento seems fair. The Republic goal was unfortunate though, denying the Lights 2 points. | Bye |
| 16 | Birmingham Legion | 15 | -1 | 1-2-2 | LTLTW | 8.467 | A depleted Legion roster was able to control the game for 90 minutes and got its first win. The 1-0 scoreline was slightly flattering to Pittsburgh. | v. Indy |
| 17 | Loudoun United | 22 | +5 | 0-2-3 | LTLTT | 8.300 | Loudoun had leads early in both halves but couldn’t hold them, ending 3-3 with Lou City. 12th in the East but this shows how tight the conference really is. | @ Hartford |
| 18 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 16 | -2 | 2-3-1 | WLWTL | 6.967 | The Riverhounds didn’t get a shot on goal until the 83rd minute and that was easily handled. The 0-1 loss in Birmingham continues a shaky title defense. | @ NYRBiii, v. Detroit |
| 19 | San Antonio FC | 5 | -14 | 3-1-3 | WWTLT | 6.805 | San Antonio looked toothless in the 0-2 loss in Orange County and could not take advantage of 10-man Miami at home to finish 0-0. 4 games in all competitions in April: 0 goals. | @ El Paso |
| 20 | Hartford Athletic | 11 | -9 | 2-1-3 | TWTTL | 6.767 | Humiliated 0-4 at home by El Paso, Hartford couldn’t even score on an open goal. Performances are getting consistently weaker. | v. Loudoun |
| 21 | Brooklyn FC | 25 | +4 | 2-4-0 | LLLLW | 6.250 | Brooklyn had scored 2 goals in 5 games. They exploded for the 3-0 shock win over Charleston. But it wasn’t that close. And they did it with 28.9% possession. | Bye |
| 22 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 18 | -4 | 1-2-2 | TWLLT | 5.688 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks were on a bye this week. | v. KCi, v. Monterey Bay |
| 23 | Lexington SC | 8 | -15 | 1-3-2 | TWLTL | 4.183 | Lexington’s win over Brooklyn seems a long time ago now. The 1-3 home loss to Rhode Island was their worst outing of the year. | @ Orange County |
| 24 | Sporting JAX | 24 | 0 | 0-5-1 | TLLLL | 4.083 | The good news: the defense is getting markedly better. The bad news: they did not get a shot until the 80th minute and none on target in the 0-1 loss in Detroit. | @ Louisville |
| 25 | Monterey Bay FC | 19 | -6 | 0-4-2 | LTLTL | 3.517 | Monterey Bay held almost 2/3rds of the ball but were unable to produce any meaningful attack. Again. Unlike JAX they are not getting better. | @ Colorado Springs |
- Open Cup, Tuesday (win)
- Open Cup, Tuesday (loss)
- Open Cup, Wednesday
