First Team

Notebook: Power Ranking Update

Branko Boskovic

Despite earning the club's seventh consecutive home win onthe weekend, D.C. United still sits in fourth place in the EasternConference. While theBlack-and-Red didn't enjoy any upward movement in the standings, the world ofpower rankings did take note of D.C.'s tight victory over Columbus. We take a look at five recent MLS powerrankings to see where the national media ranks United. 


Soccer By Ives:Ranked T-6th (with Seattle), last week – 7th


SBNation: Ranked 7th – last week 7th


What they're saying:  Won this week, but they just don't seem to have the defensivetalent to hang with the rest of the big boys in the East. Prove us wrong.


MLSSoccer.com: Ranked 7th – last week – 7th


ESPN.com:Ranked 3rd – last week – 5th


SoccerAmerica: Ranked 4th – last week 5th


What they're saying:  A seventh straight home win, 1-0 over Columbus, broughtUnited to within one of the team record, set in 1998. Chris Pontius strengthenedhis case for a USA callup by scoring his team-high 10th goal of the seasonearly in the second half. Another crucial conference match is on tap when D.C.plays at Kansas City.


Among these five polls, D.C. United's average ranking comes in at 5.5 - up from 6.4 a week ago.


With 36 points from 21 games played, the Black-and-Red are fifth in the league in points per game (1.71).


What do you think of the latest power rankings? Is D.C. in the right spot?