Real Salt Lake, step down. There's a new No. 1 in our power rankings, and the last time it visited Utah, it took a 4-1 spanking.
Since then, and really in the past month, the Galaxy is Major League Soccer's best club, both in the standings -- 6-2-5, with 23 points, five more than anyone else -- and on the field. For that, thanks go to Landon Donovan, in his best form since 2009; to David Beckham, the best passer in MLS; to a shut-down defense that has prospered even when mistakes are made; and to a blend of the old kill-the-game approach with a new possession style of play.
Once L.A. gets the hang of holding onto the ball, watch out, MLS, indeed.
L.A. ought to be 8-2-3, at least: Lose the phantom penalty in D.C. and ditch Sean Franklin's giveaway in Philly, and the Galaxy is on its way to another Supporters' Shield. As it stands, the big three -- L.A., RSL and the New York Red Bulls -- tower over the rest of the league, and who's really No. 1 shifts from game to game.
This week's rankings:
Week 10: Chad Barrett flicks home Beckham's free kick in a 1-0 SuperClasico triumph
Remark: Beckham's trek to Old Trafford? Well, OK. But 90 minutes was unthinkable
Every minute, every game: Left back Todd Dunivant has gone 1170 minutes already
Next: Wednesday vs. Houston at Home Depot Center (Carson), 7:30 p.m. (Prime Ticket); Saturday at New England, 5 p.m. (Fox Sports West and Galavision)
2. REAL SALT LAKE (5-1-2, 17 points), Last week: 1
Week 10: Survives 1-hour, 52-minute rain delay in Dallas, unlike Galaxy doesn't concede at the end in 0-0 draw
Remark: Injuries and Gold Cup sacrifices has Jason Kreis quipping about returning to the field. The man did score 108 MLS goals
Every minute, every game: Nobody, but RSL's depth is pretty good (and its injury troubles debilitating)
Next: Saturday vs. Seattle, 6 p.m. (MLS Direct Kick)
3. NEW YORK RED BULLS (4-2-4, 16 points), Last week: 3
Week 10: Mehdi Ballouchy's stoppage-time header delivers 2-2 draw in Houston
Remark: Ailing Thierry Henry will play against defending champs because, with Gold Cup departures coming, Bulls “have to make sure we win no matter how.”
Every minute, every game: Right back Jan Gunnar Solli is the only Bull with 900 minutes
Next: Wednesday vs. Colorado, 5 p.m. (MLS Direct Kick); Saturday at Vancouver, 2:30 p.m. (MLS Direct Kick)
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/soccer/post/_/id/8425/mls-power-rankings-week-11-galaxy-on-top
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