After a two-match, four-day stretch in Concacaf Champions League and MLS play, including an MLS regular-season Home Opener against the defending Supporters' Shield winners, Columbus Crew SC remains at No. 1 in MLSsoccer.com's Power Rankings, while debuting at No. 3 in Jeff Carlisle's ESPN.com poll.
For MLSsoccer.com, the Crew's schedule degree of difficulty kept them atop the list, while Carlisle highlighted the Club's solid defensive effort, with something left to be desired on the offensive end.
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MLSsoccer.com: 1st
"LAFC crept closer to the top spot, but Columbus had a high enough degree of difficulty with Concacaf Champions League during the week and Philadelphia on Sunday to stay up. Another draw and an LAFC win, though, and Columbus could finally be knocked out of this coveted and completely arbitrary top spot that there are quite literally no benefits to acquiring. Dream big, LAFC. Dream big."
ESPN.com: 3rd
"If Blake was sharp, Eloy Room wasn't too shabby either in goal for the Crew, though their lack of rhythm in the attacking third was a different story. That's bound to improve as the season goes on."
