Squads' depth is put to the test

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Columbus will have to continue its run without Chad Marshall (left) and Robbie Rogers, both of whom will play for the U.S.' Gold Cup team. AP

Our weekly dose of Major League Soccer quick takes, plotlines to watch and Power Rankings.

Crowded up top

We're roughly halfway through the MLS season, but no team in either conference is running away from the pack. In fact, the tables have tightened dramatically in recent weeks. In the Eastern Conference, just four points separate fifth-place Kansas City from first-place D.C. United, and the Wizards boast two games in hand. Out West, Houston and Seattle have reeled in hot-starting Chivas USA and look to be locked in a three-way battle for the rest of the season. Playoff spots won't be determined for some time and the fight for the Supporters' Shield could very well come down to the last week. Exciting stuff for sure.

Comings and goings

With the Confederations Cup wrapped up in South Africa, some MLS teams will get key components back. However, the CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off on Friday, and most squads again will be depleted by international duty. The U.S. alone will call in 15 players, and many others will represent their respective countries around the region. Houston should take the biggest hit, losing playmaker Stuart Holden and goal-scoring threat Brian Ching. Three other teams will also lose two key players each to Bob Bradley's U.S. squad: Chicago (Jon Busch and Logan Pause), Columbus (Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers) and Kansas City (Davy Arnaud and Jimmy Conrad). Once again, the depth of every team will be tested.

Dog days of summer

The league kicks off its fifth month with a West Coast battle as San Jose -- which had a two-week break from MLS action -- travels to Utah on Friday for a battle with Real Salt Lake. The marquee matchup, however, takes place a day later as D.C. goes into Columbus looking for a win against the surging Crew. Elsewhere, Chicago returns from SuperLiga action seeking a win in Colorado while New England heads to Los Angeles hoping for a victory against a Galaxy side that will have Landon Donovan back after his brilliant tournament in South Africa.

Week 16 Power Rankings   New Rank Previous Rank Team 1 1 Houston Dynamo (8-3-4) Despite losing a club-record 11-match unbeaten streak in L.A., the Dynamo retain the top spot thanks to an impressive résumé. 2 5 Columbus Crew (5-3-7) On a night when the Crew received their 2008 championship rings, Marshall's lone strike was enough against the brutal Red Bulls. 3 7 Seattle Sounders FC (6-3-7) Fredy Montero's eighth goal of the season was all the Sounders would need against Colorado, but his team tacked on two more. 4 4 Chicago Fire (5-3-6) After going 2-1 in the group stage of the SuperLiga -- including a 1-0 win over Chivas USA -- the Fire find themselves in the semis. 5 2 Chivas USA (8-4-3) A couple days off might be just what Preki's side, which will get Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein back, needs. 6 6 D.C. United (5-3-8) United still sits in first place in the Eastern Conference, but Free Kicks isn't convinced the squad can hold the spot for much longer. 7 3 Colorado Rapids (5-3-6) Just a week after rocketing up these rankings, the Rapids tied a bad FC Dallas squad at home and suffered a blowout in Seattle. 8 11 New England Revolution (4-4-4) The Revs went a strong 2-1 in the SuperLiga group stage, but can they translate their success to stronger play in MLS? 9 10 Real Salt Lake (5-6-4) A rout of TFC with goals by Yura Movsisyan, Kyle Beckerman and Clint Mathis gave RSL a four-match unbeaten streak. 10 8 Toronto FC (6-6-4) The Reds looked great against New York, then terrible in Utah, as the Jekyll and Hyde performance continues. 11 9 Kansas City Wizards (5-5-4) Head coach Curt Onalfo will have to get creative with his lineup in the absence of stalwarts Conrad and Arnaud. 12 12 San Jose Earthquakes (3-8-3) The Quakes remain in last place in the Western Conference and need to make moves quickly if they hope to achieve the playoffs. 13 15 Los Angeles Galaxy (3-3-9) Bruce Arena's club outplayed the Dynamo in the HDC and could use the victory as a springboard for July greatness. 14 13 FC Dallas (3-7-5) Omar Cummings' fourth tally in three matches forced FCD to share the points with the Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. 15 14 New York Red Bulls (2-12-4) After suffering two more losses, the '09 season is looking more and more like a complete disaster for last year's Cinderella story.