Power Rankings: Houston, L.A. clinch playoff berths
Updated: October 5, 2009
Note: Every week during the regular season, ESPN Soccernet.com takes the pulse of the league by ranking all 15 teams. The ESPN MLS Power Rankings consist of a consolidation of votes from Jeff Carlisle, Jen Chang, Steve Davis, Frank Dell'Apa, Kristian Dyer, Ives Galarcep, Allen Hopkins and Andrew Hush.
| 2009 Power Rankings: Week 29 | ||||
| Rank (Last Wk) | Team | Record (W-L-T) | Comment | |
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1 (1) | Columbus | 12-5-10 | Even Alejandro Moreno's interminable flopping couldn't help find a way to goal in a 1-0 loss to Seattle, snapping that impressive 24-game home unbeaten streak. |
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2 (4) | Los Angeles | 11-6-11 | The Galaxy are back in the playoffs after a three-year hiatus. A healthy Edson Buddle could be the difference between a deep run and a first-round exit. |
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3 (2) | Houston | 12-8-8 | The Red Mist descends once again in Houston. That's five ejections in the Dynamo's past six matches overall. |
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4 (3) | Chicago | 10-7-11 | Now winless in five. The Fire have talent, but do they have heart? |
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5 (7) | Seattle Sounders FC | 10-7-11 | Sigi Schmid gets some sweet revenge over his former team as the Sounders revive their playoff aspirations. |
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6 (6) | Chivas USA | 12-9-5 | Preki's team finally looks like a playoff-worthy unit, taking all three points out of RFK Stadium. |
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7 (5) | New England | 10-9-8 | With their list of casualties mounting, the Revs are being held together by superglue and Shalrie Joseph. |
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8 (8) | Colorado | 10-8-10 | The Rapids continue to limp toward the postseason, and now Julien Baudet and Mehdi Ballouchy are suspended. |
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9 (9) | Toronto FC | 9-10-8 | With Chicago and D.C. United losing, it wasn't a bad weekend for idle TFC. |
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10 (10) | DC United | 8-8-12 | Tom Soehn's side looked old and apathetic in dropping its second consecutive match at home; nothing less than winning its final two is required for playoff entry now. |
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11 (13) | FC Dallas | 9-12-6 | The Jeff Cunningham show continues as he almost single-handedly keeps FCD's very faint playoffs hopes alive. |
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12 (11) | Real Salt Lake | 9-11-7 | Doesn't look like RSL will repeat last year's magic, as the postseason looks to be beyond its reach. |
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13 (12) | Kansas City | 8-11-8 | The Wizards get a credible draw in Houston, but it wasn't enough to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. |
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14 (14) | San Jose | 7-12-7 | Has anybody noticed that Frank Yallop's team is 4-1-4 since late July? Ryan Johnson converted a dubious penalty kick as the Earthquakes won over the weekend. |
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15 (15) | New York Red Bulls | 4-18-6 | Saturday's loss to San Jose confirmed what we've known for months: New York is the worst team in MLS. |
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