With six matches now played, this season’s contenders are starting to emerge.
When you reach six matches into the season, you can begin to make an indications on who will achieve what come the end of the campaign.
However this year’s MLS is proving to be the closest one yet, and a good run will see one team climb up either table frantically.
One team which has done just that is Sporting Kansas City, who rose to second in the Western Conference after beating Portland Timbers 1-0 at Providence Park.
Dom Dwyer headed in his second goal of the campaign as the away side remained unbeaten this season with three wins and three draws.
Tim Melia made some crucial saves to deny Portland. His best was stopping Nagbe’s 25-year goal bound effort by touching it onto the crossbar.
“We are playing well,” said Dwyer after the game.
“We are passing the ball around nicely and controlling games which is very positive. We remain undefeated and today was a real solid team performance from front to back.”
Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes, who was taking charge of his 300th game, was also very happy with how his team played at a very difficult Portland side.
“We came to play and weren’t nervous. We didn’t let the emotion of the game rattle us,” he said.
At the other end of the spectrum, Colorado Rapids fell to the bottom of the Western Conference after a 2-1 home loss to a resurgent Real Salt Lake.
Defeat marked the end of Colorado’s two-year unbeaten home record in MLS, whilst RSL made it two wins out of two under Mike Petke.
Kevin Doyle headed the home side in front with a powerful header that Nick Rimando failed to keep out.
Yuri Movsisyan equalised from the penalty spot with seven minutes to go, before Brooks Lennon scored a winner for the visitors with a low strike from 18-yards.
“They sat back and we struggled to play our style,” Lennon said after the game.
“On and off the pitch, we have come together and are now benefiting from it. We are on a good run and hope to continue it.”
Another team struggling are Philadelphia Union, who lost to New York City 2-0 at Talen Energy Stadium.
Jack Harrison scored the first for the visitors with a first time left-footed strike, before veteran striker David Villa produced a moment of magic to seal the points.
The former World Cup winner and NYCFC captain lobbed Andre Blake from over 50 yards in stoppage time.
“I saw the keeper was off his line and thought to just try it,” Villa said after the game.
“I don’t know if I will score from that distance again, I tried it against Philadelphia last year and hit the crossbar so this one went better.”
Boos rung out for the home side at full-time, with Philadelphia bottom of the Eastern Conference and winless so far, adding pressure on manager Jim Curtin.
Elsewhere, Vancouver Whitecaps made it back-to back wins at home after defeating Seattle Sounders 2-1, Montreal Impact recorded their first win of the year against Atlanta United by the same scoreline, and Chicago Fire comfortably beat New England Revolution 3-0.
Also, New York Red Bulls beat DC United 2-0 at Red Bull Arena, and Columbus Crew returned to the top of the Eastern Conference thanks to a 2-1 win over Toronto FC.
Finally, Dallas and San Jose Earthquakes could only draw 1-1, and Minnesota United fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Arena.
Liam Richner 