by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

After a round filled with highlight reel goals and major defensive gaffes, we saw more movement in this week's thoroughly subjective Major League Soccer style council single table.

Not only did we have just one draw from the six matches, but four of the five victories were of the two-goal variety. With the rankings tightly packed from spot-to-spot, nine teams settled on a new rung.

Columbus, D.C. United, Los Angeles and New England all jumped two places, while Colorado fell four - tying our season low for the biggest plummet.

#1- Houston Dynamo (1)

Their penthouse lead is shrinking, even with Seattle idle. Despite having the left side of defense ravaged, the Dynamo managed to escape Toronto with a point. It wasn't all bad, though: after starring as an emergency central defender for the entire season, Geoff Cameron moved into a playmaking role and deftly set up his team's equalizer. A visit from healing New England is on the docket for Saturday. 

#2- Seattle Sounders (2)

The Sounders were busy setting up a September 2nd Open Cup final date and gamely falling to Chelsea, so no chart movement this week. They could challenge for the top spot with a win over visiting Chicago this weekend.

#3- Chicago Fire (4)

You've just gotta love Mr. White. Locked in a scoreless draw with San Jose, the Fire (who were going green by resting several regulars after a long midweek SuperLiga shift) trot Cuauhtemoc Blanco out at the hour and he velvet touches the team to a 2-0 win. ¿No hay problema, correcto? It might not be quite that simple when they visit Seattle on Saturday, should be a real firecracker of a contest.

#4- D.C. United (6)

The capital crew snapped a three-game winless slide in style, second half thumping Colorado in their first game at RFK in over a month. Welcome home! A Jaime Moreno penalty and a goal from Luciano Emilio made it all seem so typical for United, who now have the league's most prolific offense after the break (17 second half goals in 18 games). A trip to struggling San Jose awaits on Saturday.

#5- Columbus Crew (7)

I could almost swear to reading an opinion column recently that urged more playing time for Steven Lenhart... oh well, it doesn't matter. What does matter if that "Big Bird" utterly demolished Real Salt Lake this past weekend. In tandem with the similarly opportunistic Jason Garey, Lenhart shot down the theory that Columbus' forwards can't score, and then he made a pair for his partner. Seriously, that is one large, blond-froed, active striker. I can't imagine Guille Schelotto will have much trouble picking him out - even if the MVP's injury will probably ensure that won't happen this week against visiting rivals Toronto FC. Nevertheless, this team finally looks like a title defender.

#6- Chivas USA (3)

The fall was coming, and it may not be finished. As Chivas USA seemingly starts to drift down to the lowly position I had them pegged for in preseason, one can see all the little switches in fortune. The margin for error was small for the Goat from day one, but now mistakes are having them pay for it. The team is off from league play this week, which may be a good thing. I can only assume Sasha Victorine would have remembered to move his feet chasing a clearance without the extra days, but that was far from their only recent problem.

#7- Los Angeles Galaxy (9)

The hottest team in the solar system right now, L.A. ran their win streak to four by blasting New York with three space-age golazos. With the stars back and Alecko Eskandarian having all sorts of fun these days, the Galaxy are now nearly within reach of the top spot in the West. If they can get Omar Gonzalez to keep his arms down, a win at Kansas City on Saturday could actually end the round with the second highest point total in MLS.

#8- Toronto FC (8)

Though still not fully efficient with their attack, TFC did hold the league's top team. It can be frightening to watch the Reds boot it around your end on a string, but just as scary is Toronto's willingness to give away goals with mistakes at the back - only New York and San Jose have leaked more goals this season. Finishing drills all around (again) before a weekend grudge match in Columbus.

#9- Colorado Rapids (5)

Despite leading at the break against the run of play, the Rapids continued sloppy play in their own end against comeback kids D.C. United. In particular, the areas leading up to the Colorado eighteen have recently looked like an attack hyperspace, putting the backline under pressure at speed far too often. Which Rocky Mountain bunch will show up against New York this weekend? The team has just one win in five, with that being a 1-0 home decision over FC Dallas.

#10- New England Revolution (12)

The Revs are back to break even after getting a big win over Chivas USA. Still missing some stars, New England got a big game from Matt Reis and his "no-name defense" (I mean that in a good way), and then brought on slightly hobbled Shalrie Joseph for a short shift that directly led to two goals. Gosh, wouldn't it be fun to see what Steve Nicol can do with his whole squad fit at once? We won't find out at Houston Saturday, but there are still three months before the playoffs start.

#11- Kansas City Wizards (10)

The Wizards slip a rung despite being idle. A weekend visit from Los Angeles offers a chance to reverse their chart slide by ending a league win drought that stretches back to June 13th.

#12- Real Salt Lake (11)

This is now the official 2009 head-scratcher. Clearly being far less than all they can be, RSL are just finding ways to lose now. This past weekend, despite leaning on the hosts for long stretches, the Royal Army finished poorly enough and let keeper Nick Rimando down on his doorstep enough to lose 3-1 to a Crew team missing Chad Marshall, Alejandro Moreno, Robbie Rogers and Schelotto. Yeesh. This team has too much quality depth to be struggling against sapped rosters. I'd certainly not want to be FC Dallas at Rio Tinto on Friday.

#13- FC Dallas (13)

After a round off, the Texans travel to Real Salt Lake on Friday night.

#14- San Jose Earthquakes (14)

Though the late Blanco-induced Chicago defeat was a bit harsh from an effort standpoint, this team simply has yet to find its collective stride. This season has been a constant scramble, with weekly midfield line-up changes, a revolving door of ineffective striker partners next to Ryan Johnson and a backline that is screaming for a marshal figure. D.C. United comes to town Saturday with their 3-5-2, leading me to believe Frank Yallop would do well to consider using real wingers. When you're down this far and close to losing that mathematical playoff hope, why not just go for it?

#15- New York Red Bulls (15)

Another week, another crushing disappointment. I'm not sure what else can be said, really. I can harp on the lack of pressure on distance shooters, keepers being caught drifting off the line (twice in a half hour, no less) and missed spot kicks 'til Luke finds the Force - matters not. The Red Bulls have lost four straight and 10 of 11 (counting an Open Cup defeat that directly preceded the first of five consecutive league losses back in mid-May). And now, they have what seems an unpleasant trip to Colorado on Saturday.

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners. Questions, comments, kudos or complaints? Email him at greg@noshortcorners.com.

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