MLS Power Rankings, Week 4: Crew climb to 2nd during international break

Welcome to the 2018 MLS Power Rankings, where we rank each team after each week with consideration to form, latest results, stats, and other intangibles to craft an idea of how things stand in one single table.

Here's how each team ranks after Week 4 of the 2018 season.

1. New York City FC

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. New England Revolution
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at San Jose (8:00 p.m. ET)

New York City FC battled back to earn just the one point against the Revs, and despite Columbus nipping at its heels, this team will stay up top this week, too.

2. Columbus Crew SC ▲

• Last Week: 3-1 win vs. D.C. United
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. Vancouver (3:00 p.m. ET)

Columbus Crew SC came out on top in a wild first half against D.C. United, and now sit pretty near the top of this table, tied in all categories with NYCFC.

3. Atlanta United ▼

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at Minnesota (8:00 p.m. ET)

Atlanta United didn't play this week due to the international break. We assume Tata Martino has already begun drawing up his strategy for Juventus, though.

4. Sporting Kansas City ▼

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Colorado Rapids
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. D.C. United (8:30 p.m. ET)

Like NYCFC, Sporting Kansas City fought hard to secure a 2-2 draw, a result that isn't exactly ideal but one that won't see this side's position shift drastically.

5. New York Red Bulls ▲

• Last Week: 3-0 win vs. Minnesota United
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at Orlando (1:00 p.m. ET)

The New York Red Bulls rebounded from their previous defeat by making short work of the Loons. The Eastern Conference is looking dominant once again.

6. Los Angeles FC ▼

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at LA Galaxy (3:00 p.m. ET)

Los Angeles FC is in week two of its break, and Bob Bradley will be happy to have some of the attention off his young team as he uses that time to work.

7. Toronto FC

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 30 vs. Real Salt Lake (8:00 p.m. ET)

Toronto FC didn't play this week due to the international break. The Reds did re-sign Victor Vazquez though, just in time for a bout with Club America.

8. Vancouver Whitecaps

• Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. LA Galaxy
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at Columbus (3:00 p.m. ET)

Goose eggs for the Vancouver Whitecaps, who take a point out of the Galaxy, and will be glad to have done so before a striker from Sweden came to play.

9. Seattle Sounders

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. Montreal (10:00 p.m. ET)

The Seattle Sounders didn't play this week due to the international break. The club's scouting department was hard at work looking for its next star signing.

10. Houston Dynamo

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. New England (8:30 p.m. ET)

The Houston Dynamo didn't play this week due to the international break. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera probably wasn't pleased with the time off, though.

11. Chicago Fire ▲

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. Portland (6:00 p.m. ET)

The Chicago Fire didn't play this week due to the international break. Some bad news, however, as Matt Polster is out for five-to-six weeks with a knee sprain.

12. Philadelphia Union ▲

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at Colorado (9:00 p.m. ET)

The Philadelphia Union didn't play this week due to the international break. To keep spirits up, the club put a microphone on Alejandro Bedoya during training.

13. LA Galaxy ▲

• Last Week: 0-0 draw vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. LAFC (3:00 p.m. ET)

The Galaxy stood firm and earned a point out of Vancouver, but it's the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic that sees this team climb the table (you're welcome).

14. Minnesota United ▼

• Last Week: 3-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. Atlanta (8:00 p.m. ET)

It's back to the drawing board for Minnesota United, whose winning start came to an abrupt stop when faced with the prospect of keeping the Red Bulls quiet.

15. San Jose Earthquakes ▼

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. NYCFC (8:00 p.m. ET)

The San Jose Earthquakes didn't play this week due to the international break. Chris Wondolowski didn't take a break from being an absolute savage, though:

16. New England Revolution ▲

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. New York City FC
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at Houston (8:30 p.m. ET)

The New England Revolution used their previous bye week to prepare well for a test against NYCFC, and while it wasn't pretty near the end, a point's a point.

17. Montreal Impact ▼

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at Seattle (10:00 p.m. ET)

The Montreal Impact didn't play this week due to the international break. All the while, Ignacio Piatti earned plaudits as the most underrated player in MLS.

18. FC Dallas

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. Portland Timbers
• Next MLS Match: April 7 vs. Colorado (8:00 p.m. ET)

Little could separate FC Dallas from Portland in this battle between two clubs that once stood mighty in MLS but now look a shade of their best selves.

19. Portland Timbers ▲

• Last Week: 1-1 draw vs. FC Dallas
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at Chicago (6:00 p.m. ET)

Just one point? Good enough. Even that's a sign of progress for the Portland Timbers. It took a bit of effort, but this team will be fine with any sort of positive steps.

20. Real Salt Lake

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 30 at Toronto (8:00 p.m. ET)

Real Salt Lake didn't play this week due to the international break. RSL wasn't up to much, though Albert Rusnak did score for Slovakia - which is something.

21. D.C. United ▼

• Last Week: 3-1 loss vs. Columbus Crew SC
• Next MLS Match: March 31 at Sporting KC (8:30 p.m. ET)

Still winless after four matches, D.C. United will need to start asking itself some tough questions once again. If there aren't any answers? Goodbye, 2018.

22. Orlando City

• Last Week: Bye week
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. NY Red Bulls (1:00 p.m. ET)

Orlando City didn't play this week due to the international break. The team did welcome Uri Rosell and Josue Colman back into full training, which is nice.

23. Colorado Rapids

• Last Week: 2-2 draw vs. Sporting KC
• Next MLS Match: March 31 vs. Philadelphia (9:00 p.m. ET)

Holding level with Sporting KC is by no means a poor result, and the Colorado Rapids will be chuffed to have earned a point, even if a win was in the cards.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)