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ESPN Staff Writer- Dan Hajducky is a staff writer for ESPN. He has an MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University and played on the men's soccer teams at Fordham and Southern Connecticut State universities.
Major League Soccer is back, and it's as unpredictable as ever. The defending MLS Cup champions suffered a heartbreaker of a 90th-minute defeat in Los Angeles, last year's Supporters' Shield winners went to Portland to prove they're no one-hit wonder, and at the bottom of the standings it's maybe not as unpredictable as the rest of the league.
With Week 1 in the books, Jeff Carlisle and Dan Hajducky look at the weekend's results and break down all 28 clubs' starts to the 2022 season -- with a handful of teams in unfamiliar positions in our order.
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1. LAFC
Next MLS match: March 6 vs. Portland Timbers, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
As managerial debuts go, Steve Cherundolo got about all he could have asked for with a Carlos Vela hat trick, impressive midfield play and a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory. If Vela continues this level of play, with his contract expiring this summer, LAFC might have to break the bank to keep him. -- Carlisle
2. Nashville SC
Next MLS match: March 5 at Minnesota United, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Nashville served notice that it will do just fine in the Western Conference following its 1-0 road win against Seattle. Eyebrows were raised in 2019 when Nashville spent $650,000 in allocation money for Anibal Godoy, but he's been worth every penny and bagged the game-winner on Sunday. -- Carlisle
3. Atlanta United FC
Next MLS match: March 5 at Colorado Rapids, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
A crowd of more than 67,000 filled into Mercedes-Benz Stadium to watch Atlanta, in the stadium's first-ever MLS opener, outlast 2021 Western Conference scoring leaders Sporting KC. Atlanta was outpossessed and outshot, but took advantage of its chances with Luiz Araujo, Dom Dwyer and 17-year-old Caleb Wiley all netting. (Oh, and Josef Martinez had two assists.) Atlanta looks fearsome. Again. -- Hajducky
4. LA Galaxy
Next MLS match: March 5 at Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Sunday's 1-0 win over NYCFC warmed Greg Vanney's heart for a few reasons. First was Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez's 90th-minute winner. Perhaps a bigger one was the shutout his side recorded. The Galaxy kept just five clean sheets during all of the 2021 regular season. -- Carlisle
5. Columbus Crew
Next MLS match: March 5 at San Jose Earthquakes, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Columbus put a shellacking on Vancouver. It was 2-0 25 minutes in, and the chasm only widened, even before the Whitecaps' Jake Nerwinski saw red early in the second half. Columbus didn't concede a shot on goal but managed seven while completing almost 87% of its passes. Hard to be more impressive to start a season. -- Hajducky
6. New England Revolution
Next MLS match: March 5 vs. FC Dallas, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The reigning Supporters' Shield winners, fresh off their historic 2021, finished level with MLS Cup runner-up Portland in an instant classic. Carles Gil is still the most dangerous creator in MLS and Sebastian Lletget found the net in his Revs debut. Earl Edwards Jr. filled in admirably for injured and Arsenal-bound Matt Turner in net, but the usually stellar New England defense had some communication issues that need sorting. -- Hajducky
7. Portland Timbers
Next MLS match: March 6 at LAFC, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Yimmi Chara might have wrapped up Goal of the Year in the season's first week thanks to a bicycle kick equalizer in Portland's 2-2 draw with New England. The goal helped distract from -- if only for a moment -- the Timbers' fans' continued ire at the club's handling of the domestic violence allegations against Andy Polo. -- Carlisle
8. New York Red Bulls
Next MLS match: March 5 at Toronto FC, 2 p.m. ET; ESPN+
The Red Bulls certainly took advantage of their chances: three goals off counters. They were massively outpossessed and completed only 57% of their passes, but bruising defense (25 clearances and 22 fouls committed) set the tone. It's a tough few weeks for New York; after Toronto, it has Minnesota, Columbus and New England, respectively. If the Red Bulls emerge successful, they'll be high up these rankings for some time. -- Hajducky
9. Orlando City
Next MLS match: March 5 at Chicago Fire, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Orlando City came out the other side of a boxing match with Montreal, both sides down to 10 by the 90th minute. It was the type of grit the Lions could've used more of last November against Nashville in the postseason, but it was a character-building victory to start 2022. -- Hajducky
10. D.C. United
Next MLS match: March 5 at FC Cincinnati, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Early on, it looked like Charlotte had a dream start to its inaugural season. Its mad scramble of a goal less than 20 minutes in was waved off, and it was all D.C. United fortune from there: a controversial PK, a massive deflection on a shot from distance -- both from Michael Estrada -- and a cross parried off Ola Kamara's back. Football can be cruel, but you won't hear D.C. complaining. -- Hajducky
11. Minnesota United
Next MLS match: March 5 vs. Nashville SC, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The Loons hung tough in their season opener, and did well to secure a road draw against the Union, despite missing a trio of starters. For all the talk of DP strikers, Robin Lod's finishing remains impressive. He bagged Minnesota's first goal of the season in a 1-1 draw. -- Carlisle
12. Philadelphia Union
Next MLS match: March 5 at CF Montreal, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
The Union squeaked out a point at home, where they only tied three times the entirety of 2021. Minnesota (midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, particularly) looked dangerous in attack and on the road -- both areas they struggled with last season -- but Philly, as it does often, weathered the storm. Philadelphia plays Montreal and San Jose next, looking (and favored) to take full points from each. -- Hajducky
13. Austin FC
Next MLS match: March 6 vs. Inter Miami, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes
Austin won't be able to play a pushover like FC Cincinnati every week, but you still have to beat such teams, and the Verde and Black did their part in a 5-0 thumping. With a year under its belt, an attack featuring Sebastian Driussi, Cecilio Dominguez and Diego Fagundez looks set to do some damage. -- Carlisle
14. New York City FC
Next MLS match: March 5 at Vancouver Whitecaps, 6 p.m. ET; ESPN+
Rarely does an opening-day loss feel positive, but NYCFC were undone by a 90th-minute feat of individual brilliance, courtesy of Chicharito. The reigning MLS Cup champs didn't look quite as dynamic or sharp in attack, but they'll rebound just fine. -- Hajducky
15. Toronto FC
Next MLS match: March 5 vs. New York Red Bulls, 2 p.m. ET ESPN+
The Bob Bradley era has begun in Toronto, not quite as resoundingly as hoped, but after taking only 28 points in 2021 (an average of 0.82 per match), any and all points are welcomed -- especially on the road, a particular point of contention for the Reds a year ago. If their success in the final third (75.1% pass completion) could yield more chances (one shot on target), Toronto could rise quickly. -- Hajducky
16. FC Dallas
Next MLS match: March 5 at New England Revolution, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
If only Jesus Ferreira's goal had been allowed to stand. Instead of going 2-0 up on Toronto, Dallas' lead stayed at one (rightly so, it should be pointed out) thanks to VAR, and Nico Estevez's side couldn't make it stand up in a 1-1 draw. -- Carlisle
17. Seattle Sounders
Next MLS match:March 5 at Real Salt Lake, 6 p.m. ET
The Sounders were part of a CONCACAF Champions League "oh-for" last weekend, as all four MLS sides in the CCL lost. But Seattle was the only one to lose at home -- this after hosting the second leg against Honduran side Motagua -- so that isn't as much of an excuse as you might think. The Sounders will be fine, but it will take some time for their new players to gel. -- Carlisle
18. Chicago Fire
Next MLS match: March 5 vs. Orlando City, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
There was concern about Chicago's defense headed into 2022, so keeping Phil Neville's boys (notably Gonzalo Higuain) off the board will feel like a victory. But with the Fire's retooled attack, including former Bayern Munich and Liverpool man Xherdan Shaqiri, a handful of goals to start would've been a clarion call for the Fire faithful. -- Hajducky
19. Inter Miami CF
Next MLS match: March 6 at Austin FC, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
David Beckham's Inter Miami need to take a huge step forward in 2022, and Saturday wasn't it. Only three shots on goal and little more than 40% possession. Neville will want more from his talented (and expensive) squad. -- Hajducky