The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 3Changes galore in the rankings
A lot of movement in the rankings this week, as one might expect in the early season. Some strange results in the USL Championship, including 3 own goals (although one was a bounce off the back of the goalkeeper; I don’t think that should count). And of course the good guys did not have a good week.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Note |
| 1 | Louisville City | 2 | +1 | 2-0-0 | Lou City were all over Pittsburgh in a comprehensive 3-1 win. Looking just the same as ever, and Wilson Harris is a huge scoring threat with every touch. Three Sparks up this weekend. |
| 2 | Sacramento Republic | 1 | -1 | 1-0-2 | The Republic put up 14 shots but were unable to convert any of them. A Callum Chapman-Page own goal gave them the lead but they couldn’t hold it. 1-1 draw; back home for Memphis this week. |
| 3 | Orange County | 4 | +1 | 1-0-2 | OC have scored 2 goals in every game so far this season, but have managed only 1 win. They had to come from behind twice to draw Miami 2-2. Top of the Western Conference though. |
| 4 | Charleston Battery | 14 | +10 | 1-0-2 | The Battery beat New Mexico United 4-0 and it wasn’t that close. A complete performance by Charleston and they break into the win column in an emphatic manner. They travel to Miami this weekend. |
| 5 | Indy Eleven | 3 | -2 | 1-1-1 | Indy were outshot by SacRep but created the better chances, including an own goal to draw 1-1. Augustine Williams scored his first for the team and appears well settled in. Detroit next. |
| 6 | Hartford Athletic | 11 | +5 | 2-0-0 | No question that Hartford was dominant in the 1-0 win over the Legion and their offseasn improvement is becoming all the more apparent. 27 shots, 11 on target and an xG of 5.13. A trip to North Carolina this week. |
| 7 | Detroit City | 16 | +9 | 2-0-0 | Le Rouge had to come from behind to beat Loudoun 2-1 at home in an entertaining and even contest. The score could have been much higher on both sides. They head to Indy next. |
| 8 | San Antonio | 9 | +1 | 1-0-2 | Juan Agudelo whiffed a PK, but San Antonio didn’t need it as they beat Colorado Springs comfortably 2-0. That’s the first win of the season, though. Monterey bay this week. |
| 9 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 6 | -3 | 0-0-2 | The Rowdies had just 3 shots in North Carolina with only 1 on goal and needed an own goal to salvage a 1-1 draw. They are struggling just a bit and face another high octane attack from Rhode Island. |
| 10 | Loudoun United | 7 | -3 | 1-1-1 | A massive howler by keeper Hugo Fauroux doomed Loudoun to a 1-2 defeat in Detroit for their first loss, but they failed to convert some good chances of their own. |
| 11 | The Miami FC | 12 | +1 | 1-1-1 | Miami had some good chances to add to their tally, but had to settle for a 2-2 draw in Orange County. A solid display, however they get Charleston this week. |
| 12 | Birmingham Legion | 8 | -4 | 1-1-0 | The Legion had some chances in the second half, but they still have not scored a goal directly and cannot continue to absorb the kind of pressure they have seen in the first two games. Off to Louisville next. |
| 13 | FC Tulsa | 10 | -3 | 1-0-0 | FC Tulsa were on a bye this week. |
| 14 | Rhode Island FC | 13 | -1 | 0-0-2 | Nowehre near as much attack this week, but they led twice in Monterey but ended up drawing 2-2. A bit lucky to get the point, though, as Monterey were the better team. Down to Tampa this week. |
| 15 | Oakland Roots | 5 | -10 | 1-1-1 | The Roots had no shots on goal and needed a strong performance by keeper Paul Blanchette to stop the 0-1 loss in Phoenix from being worse. They play Las Vegas this week in what could be a fairly even contest. |
| 16 | New Mexico United | 15 | -1 | 1-1-1 | New Mexico were completely outplayed in every way, losing 0-4 in Charleston. The most lopsided game of the season to date. The week 1 win over Pittsburgh is looking far off now. |
| 17 | Memphis 901 | 17 | 0 | 1-1-0 | Memphis 901 were on a bye this week. |
| 18 | Monterey Bay Union | 18 | 0 | 1-0-2 | The Union had 2 goals called off for offside in the 2-2 draw with Rhode Island, and wasted a few other strong chances. They had to come from behind twice and will be kicking themselves. |
| 19 | North Carolina FC | 19 | 0 | 0-1-2 | NCFC were close to their first win of the season, completely dominating Tampa Bay. An attempted clearance by Mikey Maldonado ended up up an own goal and they had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Getting better though. Hartford up next. |
| 20 | Phoenix Rising | 20 | 0 | 1-2-0 | The Rising finally scored a goal and cuold hve scored a few more in a dominant 1-0 win over Oakland. Much more like last year’s team. New Mexico this week means the opportunity for a few more. |
| 21 | Las Vegas Lights | 23 | 2 | 1-2-0 | Las Vegas got the first win of the season, 1-0 over El Paso and needed a lucky bounce off keeper Javier Garcia to do it. They were the better side on the day, though, which isn’t saying much. |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 22 | 0 | 0-3-0 | It took the Riverhounds 239 minutes to score their first goal of 2024, but they shipped another 3 to Louisville. Attack and defense both look weak. Can they turn it around after a week off? |
| 23 | El Paso Locomotive | 21 | -2 | 0-3-1 | 4 games, 1 goal, 1 point. El Paso are struggling mightily and couldn’t even match up against Las Vegas. It could be a long hard season. They get a break this week to reset. |
| 24 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 24 | 0 | 0-3-0 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks lost again, 0-2 in San Antonio. Only 2 shots on goal and they are pretty toothless so far. They are off this week for a much needed change of approach. |
