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Photo by Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports

Ahead of an international weekend, several MLS contenders faltered while one remained atop the league with a third consecutive win to start the season.

Through three games, Sporting Kansas City is the league’s lone nine-point team following a victory over Toronto FC on Sunday. Losses from the previously unbeaten Montreal Impact and San Jose Earthquakes have solidified Sporting KC’s spot on top, while shaking up the rankings right below them.

In addition, several other teams gained ground by breaking out of early-season ruts. The New York Red Bulls and Vancouver Whitecaps each earned their first win of the season, while the Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew continued to falter after contending last year.

Here is a look at the SBI MLS Power Rankings for Week 3:

SBI MLS Power Rankings (Week 3)

1. (Last week-1) SPORTING KANSAS CITY (3-0-0)

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LAST WEEK: Defeated Toronto FC, 1-0, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– It may have been a bit controversial, but Sporting KC got the job done on Sunday against Toronto FC. Even if Brad Davis’ goal could have been ruled a foul, Sporting KC deserves praise for fully locking down a potent TFC side. With the win, Sporting KC remains the league’s lone unblemished side, justifying yet another week atop the rankings.
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2. (8) FC DALLAS (2-1-0)

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LAST WEEK: Defeated Montreal Impact, 2-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: At D.C. United on Saturday

OUTLOOK– FC Dallas bounced back from the Houston Dynamo drubbing in a major way, taking down an Eastern Conference contender with a pair of late goals. Maxi Urruti continues to shine with his new team, while Mauro Diaz is establishing himself as the league’s premier playmaker. FC Dallas has the talent, but wins like Saturday’s prove they may also have the mindset of a true contender.

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3. (2) MONTREAL IMPACT (2-1-0)

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LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-0, to FC Dallas on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– For the first time this season, the Impact looked beatable, and a pair of late goals doomed them to their first defeat of the year. Even with a cameo appearance from Didier Drogba, the Impact were the second best team on Sunday against FC Dallas. Losing to the Western Conference contenders on the road is certainly not shameful, as the Impact don’t take too big of a hit for falling to a fellow powerhouse.

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4. (9) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (2-1-0)

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LAST WEEK: Defeated San Jose Earthquakes, 3-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– In the season’s first California Clasico, the Galaxy emerged victorious. Taking advantage of an Earthquakes red card, the Galaxy were the better team in the second half and certainly deserved all three points. However, questions still remain. Where do Steven Gerrard and Giovani Dos Santos fit? What’s the Galaxy’s best lineup? Those will need to be answered as the season moves on and the DPs push back into the lineup at full health.

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5. (4) PORTLAND TIMBERS (1-1-1)

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LAST WEEK: Tied Real Salt Lake, 2-2, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– The Timbers took advantage of RSL’s indiscipline to erase a two-goal deficit and earn a hard-fought point. Although the Timbers were far from superior, the play of Fanendo Adi proved a major positive as the Nigerian striker continued to impress with a two-goal outing. Questions remain in the absence of Liam Ridgewell, but the Timbers now have a week off as the Englishman moves towards regaining his health.
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6. (6) REAL SALT LAKE (1-0-2)

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LAST WEEK: Tied Portland Timbers, 2-2, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– RSL remains unbeaten, but the team’s lack of discipline cost them two vital points against the Timbers. A pair of red cards doomed RSL to a mere draw as the team conceded a pair of late goals for the second time in three games. RSL’s inability to stay composed remains a concern, even if their front line has looked even better than expected to start the season.

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7. (14)  ORLANDO CITY (1-0-2)

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LAST WEEK: Defeated NYCFC, 1-0, on Friday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK–  Even limited by illness, Cyle Larin continued to fire for his third goal in as many games. The goal may have been a bit on the accidental side, but the Canadian international has looked spectacular to start the season. It proved to be just enough for Orlando City to escape Yankee Stadium with a win and preserve the team’s unbeaten record.

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8. (15) PHILADELPHIA UNION (2-1-0)

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LAST WEEK: Defeated New England Revolution, 3-0, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– After falling to FC Dallas in Week 1, the Union have impressed mightily in two straight victories. This time, it was C.J. Sapong leading the charge, netting twice to topple the Revs by a lopsided scoreline. The Union have looked vastly improved to this point, and could be a team to watch in the East as the season enters the summer months.
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9. (3) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (2-1-0)

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LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-1, to LA Galaxy on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– After a stellar 2-0 start, the Earthquakes came back down to earth a bit with a loss to the Galaxy. Doomed by a Simon Dawkins red card, the Earthquakes will take solace in the fact that they fared decently in an 11-on-11 setting. Through three games, the Earthquakes still appear to be a team on the come up in the early weeks of a long season.
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10. (5) HOUSTON DYNAMO (1-1-1)

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LAST WEEK: Lost, 4-3, to New York Red Bulls on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Vancouver Whitecaps on the Saturday

OUTLOOK– Following a statement win over FC Dallas, the Dynamo found themselves on the wrong side of a shootout on Saturday against the Red Bulls. Up a goal late, the Dynamo will be disappointed to have squandered their lead all the way to a loss. At the very least, the Dynamo have emerged as the league’s most entertaining team in the early season, as Owen Coyle’s side continues to fire in goals at an alarming rate.
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11. (7) TORONTO FC (1-1-1)

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LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to Sporting KC on Sunday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– TFC will feel hard done by Sunday’s loss to Sporting KC. The Canadian side out-possessed and out-worked Sporting KC for a majority of the match, but a controversial Brad Davis goal proved the difference in Sunday’s clash. Through three road games, TFC have been a bit unlucky, and will hope for a bit better with five more games on their season-opening road trip.
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12. (16) NEW YORK RED BULLS (1-2-0)

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LAST WEEK: Defeated Houston Dynamo, 4-3, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK–  After limping through the opening two weeks, the Red Bulls finally played their way into the win column. Midfielder Felipe was magnificent, providing a pair of late goals to equalize and then defeat the Dynamo on Saturday. Overcoming deficits was far from unfamiliar to last year’s Red Bulls team, and victories like Saturday’s are moments that help turn the corner from early season struggles.
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13. (11) NEW YORK CITY FC (1-1-1)

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LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to Orlando City on Friday

THIS WEEK: vs. New England Revolution on Saturday

OUTLOOK–  A narrow loss to Orlando City makes NYCFC’s start to the season look a bit more grim than it did a week ago. With just four points through three winnable games, NYCFC will be a bit disappointed with how things have transpired to start the campaign. Still, it’s hard to deny that NYCFC does look significantly better this season, especially defensively.
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14. (17) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (1-2-0)

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LAST WEEK: Defeated Seattle Sounders, 2-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Houston Dynamo on Saturday

OUTLOOK–  Following two defeats, the Whitecaps will surely be pleased with a defeat of the rivals Sounders, even if it wasn’t an ideal performance. A pair of penalties led the way for the Whitecaps, who have still yet to generate much from the run of play this season. Questions remain as to where the team’s goals will come from, but those questions feel much less pressing after grabbing all three points.
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15. (10) COLUMBUS CREW (0-2-1)

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LAST WEEK: Tied Chicago Fire, 0-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK–  The Crew earned their first point of 2016, but it still came in less than ideal fashion. A 0-0 draw against the Fire will serve as a disappointment for the Crew, even if the team had struggled defensively through the opening two weeks. Still, the Crew took plenty of shots, and are too talented to not break out of this early season rut in the very near future.
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16. (13) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (0-1-2)

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LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-0, to Philadelphia Union on Sunday

THIS WEEK: at New York City FC on Saturday

OUTLOOK– The Revs were thrashed by the Union on Sunday to remain winless on the young season. In truth, the Revs were lucky the scoreline was not more lopsided, as Bobby Shuttleworth stepped up to stop a pair of penalty kicks to limit the damage. Through three games, the Revs have failed to impress, and face plenty of questions as to where they fit in the Eastern Conference picture.
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17. (12) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (0-3-0)

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LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-1, to Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– It’s not quite time to hit the panic button, but it may be time to start asking questions as to what is happening in Seattle. Were the Sounders undone by a bad call? Probably. Did they deserve more from the game? Possibly. However, through three games, the Sounders have yet to earn a point and are already digging themselves a major hole in what could prove to be a very competitive Western Conference.
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18. (18) COLORADO RAPIDS (1-1-1)

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LAST WEEK: Tied D.C. United, 1-1, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– Ironically, the day of Tim Howard’s signing was clouded a bit by a costly error by the Rapids’ current goalkeeper. Zac MacMath’s inability to clear a late-game cross served as an uncharacteristic mistake, dooming the Rapids to just one point. With Howard and Jermaine Jones waiting in the wings, the Rapids will have a lot of reshuffling to do going forward, but will need some early season points if they hope to have a chance to compete for a postseason spot as the season wears down.
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19. (19) CHICAGO FIRE (0-1-2)

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LAST WEEK: Tied Columbus Crew, 0-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– All things considered, the Fire should be more than happy with a point against the Crew. Yes, the Fire failed to score again, and yes, they were the second best team on the field, but keeping a shutout against a team like the Crew is something to hang your hat on. Veljko Paunovic still needs to figure out his side’s ideal shape, but Saturday’s result could have been worse for a team still looking to rebuild.
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20. (20) D.C. UNITED (0-1-2)

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LAST WEEK: Tied Colorado Rapids, 1-1, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. FC Dallas on Saturday

OUTLOOK–  D.C. United’s attacking unit finally got some shots away, but struggled to put many of them on target. In total, just six of 19 efforts were on goal, as DCU once again showed deficiencies up top. Fabian Espindola did enough to bury one of those shots, but the veteran forward will need to step up even more if D.C. United is to start winning anytime soon.
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What do you think of the SBI MLS Power Rankings? Which teams do you see being ranked too highly? Who didn’t get enough respect?

Share your thoughts below.

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