MLS Power Rankings, Week 6

The New York Red Bulls are a sleeping giant no longer. Major League Soccer's marquee East Coast franchise, which had scored just twice in a 1-1-2 start, drilled a pretty decent San Jose side last weekend as English newcomer Luke Rodgers scored twice and set up catalyst Thierry Henry.

The 3-0 victory, and Henry's first goal since Sept. 11, ought to quiet the unrest among the Red Bulls' faithful, who jeered the oft-injured French superstar as he received on-field treatment for a knock against the Earthquakes. When he netted the third, in the 87th minute, he saluted the crowd, then pointed his name on the back of his jersey, a message, perhaps, not to underestimate him.

Nobody's going to underestimate the Red Bulls, not with Henry, Rafa Marquez, Joel Lindpere, Rodgers and MLS Best XI midfielder Dwayne De Rosario on the field, and we've bumped them up a spot to third in our Power Rankings, moving ahead of reigning MLS Cup champion Colorado, which got jobbed and robbed in its second loss of the season.

New York's stars will be in So Cal shortly. They play against the Galaxy at Home Depot Center on May 7.

This week's rankings:

1. REAL SALT LAKE (4-0-0), Last week: 1
Week 5: Fabian Espindola is offside for the winner in a 1-0 Rocky Mountain Cup decision over Colorado, Javier Morales' beauty forgets a 2-2 draw at Monterrey in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League
Remark: Even up with Monterrey heading home? With two away goals? RSL will take that, but captain Kyle Beckerman's absence will hurt
Local hero: Goalkeeper Nick Rimando (Montclair/Montclair HS and UCLA) is one of the league's best
Next: Wednesday vs. Monterrey (Mexico) in second leg of the Champions League final, 7 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel); April 30 at Portland, 7:30 p.m. (MLS Direct Kick)

2. GALAXY (3-1-3), Last week: 2
Week 5: Cards hurt in scoreless draw at Toronto FC, shorthanded L.A. gets goals from Chad Barrett, Omar Gonzalez for 2-1 victory in Chicago
Remark: Depth, options limited by Leonardo's ACL injury, but A.J. DeLaGarza will step in seamlessly
Local hero: Sean Franklin (Palmdale/Highland HS and Cal State Northridge) has evolved into one of MLS's best on the right flank
Next: Saturday vs. Portland at Home Depot Center, 8 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)

3. NEW YORK RED BULLS (2-1-2), Last week: 4
Week 5: Rodgers, MLS's Player of the Week, and Henry combine to swat San Jose, 3-0
Remark: That's the Red Bulls we've been waiting to see, with peerless Henry pulling the strings
Local hero: Defender Chris Albright won two MLS Cup titles in six seasons with the Galaxy
Next: Thursday vs. D.C. United, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

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Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/7618/mls-power-rankings-week-6-red-bulls-awaken

Kaká Shunsuke Nakamura Alexandre Pato