MLS Power Rankings: Nashville and LAFC Update

It's Monday, and MLS action returns, prompting ESPN's Power Rankings. Our writers assessed the performances from Matchday 5 to determine this week's rankings.

Nashville SC enjoyed a remarkable week, following their elimination of Lionel Messi and Inter Miami from the Concacaf Champions Cup with a commanding 5-0 victory over Orlando City. Sam Surridge's hat trick propelled him to seven goals, placing him at the forefront of the Golden Boot race.

In contrast, LAFC created more opportunities than Austin FC in their 0-0 draw but failed to convert any into goals against goalkeeper Brad Stuver. After a long travel week following their Concacaf Champions Cup victory in Costa Rica, LAFC will welcome the upcoming international break.

The Vancouver Whitecaps faced a challenging week, being eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup and then losing 1-0 at home to the San Jose Earthquakes. Despite this setback, it was their first defeat of the season, and substitutes Thomas Muller and Sebastian Berhalter were brought into the match, indicating a potential turnaround.

Inter Miami secured a 3-2 win over NYCFC, thanks to a second-half equalizer from Lionel Messi and a late header from Micael. This match turned into a struggle to maintain their lead, but Miami managed to secure the points.

San Diego FC achieved a 2-2 draw against Real Salt Lake, despite conceding a late goal and receiving a red card before stoppage time. This result allowed San Diego to remain undefeated after bouncing back from a midweek loss to Toluca in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

San Jose returned to winning form with a 1-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps, marking their fourth clean sheet of the season, indicating their potential as serious contenders if they maintain their strong defensive play.

The Seattle Sounders, fresh off a Concacaf Champions Cup win over Vancouver, played to a 0-0 draw against Minnesota United, despite creating several chances that went unconverted.

Real Salt Lake's Victor Olatunji scored the equalizer in the 85th minute, securing a 2-2 draw against San Diego FC. This result ended a three-game winning streak but reinforced the belief that RSL will be competitive this season.

NYCFC took the lead against Inter Miami, but Messi quickly responded, and NYCFC ended up with their first loss of the season, snapping their three-game winning streak.

FC Dallas continues to struggle with falling behind, but Petar Musa's halftime substitution proved crucial in their 4-3 victory over the Houston Dynamo. After taking an early 2-0 lead, Dallas conceded three goals in rapid succession, necessitating Musa's intervention.

James Rodriguez had a better outing in his second MLS match, but the Loons settled for a 0-0 draw against Seattle Sounders, with Rodriguez creating two chances in his home debut.

LA Galaxy's Joao Klauss scored after drawing a red card, but they ultimately managed just a 1-1 draw against the Timbers, needing to sharpen their performance with a crucial match against Toluca approaching.

The New York Red Bulls faced a disheartening 6-1 defeat to Charlotte FC, extending their winless streak to three games. The match's turning point came after Gustav Berggren received a red card.

FC Cincinnati avoided a fourth consecutive loss with a dramatic 4-3 win over CF Montreal, thanks to late goals from Tom Barlow and Kévin Denkey, somewhat alleviating the sting of a recent 5-1 loss to Tigres.

The Chicago Fire secured a 2-1 road win over the Philadelphia Union, continuing to create opportunities even after Philip Zinckernagel left the match due to injury.

Charlotte FC's emphatic 6-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls marked their third consecutive unbeaten match, with Pep Biel contributing significantly to the team's success.

St. Louis City secured a 3-1 victory against the New England Revolution, rallying after an early goal from the visitors, with Marcel Hartel's stunning half-volley sealing the win.

Toronto FC triumphed 2-1 over Columbus Crew, with Walker Zimmerman scoring the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, marking a modest yet positive start to their season.

The Houston Dynamo endured a disappointing 4-3 loss in the Texas Derby after leading at halftime, with Erik Sviatchenko's second yellow card adding to their struggles.

The Colorado Rapids showcased their attacking potential with a 4-1 win at Sporting Kansas City, highlighted by Paxton Aaronson's impressive performance.

D.C. United's match against Atlanta United ended in a lackluster draw, with only four shots taken by D.C., while goalkeeper Sean Johnson recorded his second clean sheet.

Austin FC managed to contain LAFC's offense in a goalless draw, but their ongoing creativity issues persisted, resulting in another scoreless outing.

Despite facing a red card, the Timbers managed to secure a 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy, with James Pantemis making several key saves to maintain the tie.

The New England Revolution failed to capitalize on an early lead and fell 3-1 to St. Louis City SC, showcasing the challenges they face this season.

Columbus Crew's hopes for their first win were dashed as they conceded two second-half goals, losing 2-1 to Toronto FC.