There is a new No. 1 in this week's edition of MLS Power Rankings, with Columbus' stumble against Toronto clearing the path for the youthful Philadelphia Union to become kings of the league. At the other end, Thierry Henry's Montreal lost twice in a week to fall 10 places down the order.
1. Philadelphia Union
Previous ranking: 2
Next MLS match: Saturday at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. ET
A scoreless draw at Cincinnati in midweek was underwhelming, but the Union rebounded to rain on the parade of Gonzalo Higuain's MLS debut in a dominant 3-0 win as the heavens opened in Philadelphia, providing a deluge of precipitation and goals. Twenty-year-old Anthony Fontana and 19-year-old Brenden Aaronson chipped in with a goal each as the league's model academy continues to power its strongest club.
2. Toronto FC
Previous ranking: 5
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET
Toronto moved just two points off the lead in the race for the Supporters' Shield by knocking off Eastern Conference contenders NYCFC and then league-leading Columbus. Alejandro Pozuelo scored in both of the pivotal wins, serving a reminder that the 29-year-old is very much in the race for this year's Landon Donovan MVP award.
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3. Columbus Crew
Previous ranking: 1
Next MLS match: Saturday at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Crew's three-week reign on top of MLS Power Rankings came to an end following their 3-1 defeat to Toronto -- the most goals that the league's best defense has conceded in a single game all season.
4. Orlando City
Previous ranking: 4
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Red Bulls, 4:30 p.m. ET
Orlando took four points from two trips in the span of four days, beating Sporting KC 2-1 before settling for a 0-0 draw in Dallas. For a club that's never made the MLS Cup playoffs, Oscar Pareja & Co. are 10 points clear of the East's final postseason place.
5. Portland Timbers
Previous ranking: 8
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Colorado, 11 p.m. ET
A couple of tense 1-0 wins -- including an always-satisfying triumph over the Sounders -- have the Timbers tied for the top spot in the West. Gio Savarese was able to rotate his squad, too, which is always a nice thing.
6. Seattle Sounders
Previous ranking: 3
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Vancouver, 10 p.m. ET
The Sounders bounced back from their midweek disappointment against the Timbers with an emphatic away win against the Galaxy. Jordan Morris continued his fine season with a goal and an assist.
7. New York City FC
Previous ranking: 6
Next MLS match: Saturday at Miami, 8 p.m. ET
Heber tore his ACL in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Toronto, so NYCFC will be without their No. 9 for the remainder of the season, but the club's depth in attack picked up the slack as Alexandru Mitrita netted twice and Jesus Medina added another in a 4-0 win over Cincinnati. They'll need that to continue if the Bronx side is to make a playoff run.
8. New England Revolution
Previous ranking: 13
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m. ET
The wins came against strugglers D.C. and Montreal, so take them with a grain of salt, but those results have given the Revs some separation from those sides fighting for their postseason lives.
9. FC Dallas
Previous ranking: 7
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Columbus, 8:30 p.m. ET
FCD manager Luchi Gonzalez managed to avoid defeat against his old mentor Oscar Pareja, but a 1-0 loss earlier in the week against Atlanta is a bad result. The attack continues to be feast or famine for Dallas.
10. Colorado Rapids
Previous ranking: 16
Next MLS match: Saturday at Portland, 11 p.m. ET
The Rapids walloped San Jose 5-0, only for three staff and one player to test positive COVID-19. Here's hoping that all involved recover quickly and get back on the job soon.
11. New York Red Bulls
Previous ranking: 22
Next MLS match: Saturday at Orlando, 4:30 p.m. ET
After losing three of four, the Red Bulls outscored Miami and Montreal 8-2 for a crucial six-point haul. That those wins saw six different goal scorers provides further evidence that New York is still without a focal point for an inconsistent attack.
12. Nashville SC
Previous ranking: 17
Next MLS match: Saturday at New England, 7:30 p.m. ET
With four points from games against D.C. and Houston, Nashville has lost just once -- to Supporters' Shield leader Columbus -- in five September fixtures. Daniel Rios, who scored the Music City side's lone goals in the win over D.C. and draw with Houston, makes him the expansion side's leading scorer with two.
13. Real Salt Lake
Previous ranking: 20
Next MLS match: Sunday vs. LAFC, 9:30 p.m. ET
RSL looked to have a pair of tough matchups against the Galaxy at home and Minnesota on the road, and still managed to pick up four points. Goalkeeper Andrew Putna was sharp in the 0-0 draw against the Loons.
14. Minnesota United
Previous ranking: 14
Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Cincinnati, 8 p.m. ET
There was no disgrace in losing 2-1 against Columbus, but disappointment was the byword after creating more of the chances in the 0-0 draw against RSL. Kei Kamara is still awaiting his first MNUFC goal.