1. New England Revolution— 23 pts. | 2-1 win vs. D.C. United; Week 13: at Montreal Impact
Business as usual for the Conference leaders, as Patrick Mullins scored again and Diego Fagundez shined in a table-separating victory over D.C. United. New England next gets a date with last-place Montreal with a chance to further bolster its impressive point total.
2. Sporting Kansas City— 18 pts. | 2-2 draw vs. Toronto FC; Week 13: vs. New York Red Bulls, at D.C. United
A bit of a disappointing draw for Sporting Kansas City on Friday, as a ten-man Toronto FC side scored twice at Sporting Park, sharing the points. Dom Dwyer leads the League in goals, a development that is coming at the perfect time for the champions, who suffered yet another blow on their backline with the news that Chance Myers is out for the season.
3. D.C. United — 18 pts. | 2-0 win vs. Houston Dynamo, 2-1 loss at New England Revolution; Week 13: vs. Sporting Kansas City
United earned a home victory in a match where Eddie Johnson was suspended, making this a positive week for the Black-and-Red even with Saturday’s loss in New England. This week’s match with Sporting Kansas City presents yet another huge intra-Conference match.
4. Houston Dynamo — 17 pts. | 2-0 loss at D.C. United, 3-0 loss at San Jose Earthquakes; Week 13: at Colorado Rapids
Houston suffered two shutout losses last week, both on the road. The Dynamo also lost rookie Mark Sherrod for the season through injury. With Brad Davis and Boniek Garcia at the FIFA World Cup, the goals haven’t come for this team. Houston is also tied for the most goals allowed by any MLS side this year.
5. Columbus Crew — 16 pts. | 2-0 win vs. Chicago Fire; Week 13: at Toronto FC
The Crew was possibly Week 12’s biggest beneficiary, as its three points at home against rival Chicago also came in a week where nearly every side around it in the standings dropped points. It’s Trillium Cup, presented by Scotts, week now, but the Crew heads north without Federico Higuain, who is suspended for this weekend’s match through yellow-card accumulation.
6. New York Red Bulls— 14 pts. | 2-1 loss vs. Portland Timbers FC; Week 13: at Sporting Kansas City
Bradley Wright-Phillips scored again, but Timbers FC mounted a comeback to win at Red Bull Arena, sending the Red Bulls to their third straight loss. New York plays a rare Tuesday night match tonight at Sporting Kansas City, and thanks to its weekend off after that plus the FIFA World Cup break, it will have just one match over the next 30 days.
7. Toronto FC— 13 pts. | 2-2 draw at Sporting Kansas City; Week 13: vs. Columbus Crew
Toronto FC had to have been happy to escape Sporting Park with points of some sort, especially after Steven Caldwell was sent off with the Reds trailing by one. Trailing the Crew (and the final playoff spot) by three points, this weekend’s Trillium Cup match is the type of encounter that could go a long way towards securing a playoff spot.
8. Chicago Fire — 12 pts. | 2-0 loss at Columbus Crew; Week 13: vs. LA Galaxy
Mike Magee was a scratch for the Fire’s trip to Columbus, and his status to face against his former club this weekend remains in doubt. Chicago definitely could use his scoring punch up top against the Galaxy, which has conceded a League-best nine goals all season.
9. Philadelphia Union — 11 pts. | 4-1 loss at Los Angeles Galaxy; Week 13: at Chivas USA
Philadelphia is tied with Houston for the most goals conceded (24), and the Union was on the unfortunate end of Landon Donovan’s record-setting tally --and another one after that -- in a 4-1 defeat.
10. Montreal Impact — 7 pts. | 4-1 loss at Colorado Rapids; Week 13: vs. New England Revolution
Joining the Union, Montreal suffered a matching 4-1 defeat on the road to Colorado. The Impact has just nine goals in 11 matches, fewest in the League.
