Timbers Are an Offensive Firepower

The 2025 MLS

season is officially two months old, and the action is only getting better and better with every matchday.

The Vancouver Whitecaps

are absolutely rolling after another big win; can they be the first Canadian team to win MLS Cup since Toronto FC

in 2017?

The Portland Timbers

are suddenly one of the most entertaining teams to watch, scoring for run as they surge up the Western Conference standings.

Dig in to GIVEMESPORT’s MLS Week 8 power rankings!

1

Vancouver Whitecaps

Last week: 2nd (+1)

Result: 5-1 win vs Austin FC

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at St. Louis City SC (8:30 pm ET)

The Vancouver Whitecaps

whalloped Austin, with Brian White bagging four goals himself. This team is on an unreal run of form. It’s incredible.

2

Inter Miami

Last week: 1st (-1)

Result: 0-0 draw at Chicago Fire

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at Columbus Crew (4:30 pm ET)

Inter Miami CF

went to Chicago and left with a point, although they were fortunate to do so after Chicago struggled to convert their chances. Lionel Messi

was bright, though, especially dropping deep to quarterback the attack late in the match.

3

Columbus Crew

Last week: 3rd (-)

Result: 2-1 win at St. Louis City SC

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs Inter Miami (4:30 pm ET)

Steven Moreira scored an incredible volley as the Columbus Crew SC

dispatched St. Louis City. They also added Daniel Gazdag in a savvy pickup from Philadelphia, a move that should make a good team even better. They’re one of two unbeaten teams left in MLS, and they’ll go head-to-head with the other on Saturday in Cleveland.

4

FC Cincinnati

Last week: 6th (+2)

Result: 1-0 win at DC United

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at Chicago Fire (8:30 pm ET)

FC Cincinnati

grabbed a win in the capital, thanks to a fantastic goal from Gerardo Valenzuela. They’re finally starting to get healthy again, with Matt Miazga coming off the bench and Evander close to a return.

5

San Diego FC

Last week: 4th (-1)

Result: 3-2 loss at Colorado Rapids

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at Charlotte FC (7:30 pm ET)

Are San Diego FC

coming back down to earth a bit? They lost on the road against Colorado, and struggled against the press in a way we haven’t seen before.

6

Charlotte FC

Last week: 8th (+2)

Result: 1-0 win at CF Montreal

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs San Diego FC (7:30 pm ET)

Charlotte FC

got an early goal on the road against Montreal and held on for a win. They still struggle to create chances from open play at times, but they’re so solid defensively that they typically only need a single goal to get a result.

7

Minnesota United

Last week: 5th (-2)

Result: 0-0 draw at Toronto FC

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs FC Dallas (8:30 pm ET)

Minnesota United

managed a point on the road in Toronto, but they really struggled in a match where they were asked to be proactive in possession. They average just 36.3 percent possession this season, and while they’re lethal on the counter, they’re much less effective against a set defense.

8

Philadelphia Union

Last week: 7th (-1)

Result: 1-0 loss at NYCFC

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs Atlanta United (8:30 pm ET)

Philadelphia Union

were a bit unlucky not to at least grab a point in New York. They bombarded NYCFC for a lot of the match and probably should have scored at least one goal. If Tai Baribo isn’t finishing chances for them, though, there’s not a clear option to pick up the slack.

9

LAFC

Last week: 14th (+5)

Result: 2-1 win vs San Jose Earthquakes

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at Portland Timbers (10:15 pm ET)

Denis Bouanga got his first MLS goal of 2025, and it proved to be the winner for Los Angeles FC

against San Jose. Olivier Giroud got the start but really struggled to make an impact, and LAFC generally look better without their DP No. 9 on the pitch. It’s a big concern heading into the summer.

10

Colorado Rapids

Last week: 13th (+3)

Result: 3-2 win vs San Diego FC

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at Houston Dynamo (8:30 pm ET)

The Colorado Rapids

got an impressive win against San Diego, thanks to a really sound showing from striker Rafael Navarro. They’ve won four of their last six matches and look like they’re taking a step forward in their second season under Chris Armas.

11

Nashville SC

Last week: 11th (-)

Result: 2-1 win vs Real Salt Lake

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at Seattle Sounders (7:30 pm ET)

It took a late penalty kick from Sam Surridge, but Nashville SC

got a late and deserved win over Real Salt Lake to end their two-match losing streak. They have some of the best underlying numbers in MLS, but a really tough test on the road in Seattle coming up this weekend.

12

Orlando City

Last week: 9th (-3)

Result: 0-0 draw vs New York Red Bulls

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs CF Montréal (7:30 pm ET)

Orlando City SC

were playing well against the Red Bulls until Rodrigo Schlegel’s early second-half red card, but they hung on for a draw at home. Oscar Pareja again dealt with an incredibly short-handed midfield admirably.

13

Portland Timbers

Last week: 20th (+7)

Result: 4-2 win at Sporting KC

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs LAFC (10:15 pm ET)

Over the last four matches, the Portland Timbers

have outscored their opponents 10-3. Things finally seem to be clicking for Phil Neville’s side after a poor start to the year.

14

New York Red Bulls

Last week: 10th (-4)

Result: 0-0 draw at Orlando City

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs DC United (7:30 pm ET)

NY Red Bulls

couldn’t find a winner in Orlando, despite playing a man up for 30 minutes. Their attack is painfully stagnant, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has yet to look the part of a DP attacker.

15

Chicago Fire

Last week: 18th (+3)

Result: 0-0 draw vs Inter Miami

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs FC Cincinnati (8:30 pm ET)

Chicago Fire FC

probably deserved all three points against Miami. Jonathan Bamba had a couple chances to win the match late but couldn’t find the back of the net. They finally had a solid defensive performance, while continuing to create high-quality chances at the other end. This was as encouraging as 0-0 draws get.

16

Austin FC

Last week: 12th (-4)

Result: 5-1 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs LA Galaxy (1:45 pm ET)

Austin FC

got absolutely thumped in Vancouver, and got a penalty save from Brad Stuver to keep it from getting even worse. A home match against the Galaxy this weekend is a good chance to get right.

17

Seattle Sounders

Last week: 19th (+2)

Result: 1-0 win at FC Dallas

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs Nashville SC (6:30 pm ET)

The Seattle Sounders

got a tough road win in Dallas, with Jesus Ferreira returning to his old club and Danny Musovski grabbing an early winner. Getting their first win in four matches was huge, and they’re starting to get healthy again.

18

San Jose Earthquakes

Last week: 17th (-1)

Result: 2-1 loss at LAFC

Up next: Saturday, April 19 vs Sporting KC (10:30 pm ET)

Losing on the road to LAFC isn’t the worst result, but the San Jose Earthquakes

have just one win from their last six games after an impressive start to the season. Their match against Sporting KC on Saturday isn’t a must-win at this point in the season, but also… they kind of have to win it.

19

Atlanta United

Last week: 15th (-4)

Result: 1-0 loss vs New England Revolution

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at Philadelphia Union (7:30 pm ET)

Atlanta United

are struggling. They lost at home to New England, who haven’t been good at all to start the year. They have just two wins in eight matches, are struggling to consistently defend, and their attack looks really disjointed. A road trip to Philadelphia on Saturday doesn’t make things any easier.

20

New York City FC

Last week: 23rd (+3)

Result: 1-0 win vs Philadelphia Union

Up next: Saturday, April 19 at New England Revolution (7:30 pm ET)

Alonso Martinez continues to be a star for New York City FC

, grabbing a winner against Philadelphia from a tight angle after rounding the ‘keeper. They’ve been really inconsistent this season, but have shown flashes of being a dangerous team.