The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 3Shuffling the deck a bit
Only 2 1-1 draws this week. Some surprise results and things are still looking very messy. There are still 6 teams with less than 3 games played, so we are still working without the Forge Factor.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Notes |
| 1 | San Antonio | 3 | +2 | 2-0-1 | San Antonio played on the counter as usual against Colorado Springs, but the breakthrough didn’t materialize until 83 minutes in. They then needed a heroic Jordan Farr PK stop literally at the final whistle to preserve the victory. Heading out to Monterey next. |
| 2 | Sacramento Republic | 4 | +2 | 2-0-1 | Possibly the best game of the weekend saw SacRep win 1-0 over San Diego. The Republic have given up just 1 goal in 3 games so far and are looking to cause waves this season. They get a reeling Lou City next. |
| 3 | Birmingham Legion | 5 | +2 | 2-0-1 | The Three Sparks rode a strong defensive performance to a 1-0 victory in Hartford, including standout games from GK Trevor Spangenberg and youngster Matthew Corcoran. Next up a trip to a less-than-impressive Tampa Bay. |
| 4 | San Diego Loyal | 1 | -3 | 2-1-0 | San Diego will be regretting the failure to convert on a couple of golden opportunities in the 0-1 loss to Sacramento, dropping points for the first time. They head out to a rested Phoenix. |
| 5 | Louisville City | 2 | -3 | 2-1-0 | Lou City’s home opener was, frankly, a disaster. They looked totally listless in attack and defense. Just 2 shots on target, and that would not have been enough to beat El Paso’s 3 surprise goals. They head back out to Sacramento, which may not help matters. |
| 6 | Charleston Battery | 10 | +4 | 1-0-2 | The Battery lost head coach Ben Pirmann to a red card, but were already 3-0 up over the Rowdies. The 2-year nightmare may be over. They get Hartford next. |
| 7 | Indy Eleven | 9 | +2 | 1-0-1 | Indy Eleven visited a brutally windy Detroit and got the 3 points on a Bryam Rebellon goal in the 62nd minute in an otherwise fairly even contest. Las Vegas comes calling this week and the Eleven could see their standing improve. |
| 8 | Monterey Bay Union | 8 | 0 | 1-1-1 | Monterey Bay took the lead over RGV early in the second half on a huge error by Tyler Deric in what had been a physical but even game to that point. They then lost Mobi Fehr in the 71st minute to a red card and got pummeled, giving up the equalizer in stoppage time. Still, keeper Gerold Ngnepi made 9 saves. |
| 9 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 6 | -3 | 0-1-2 | The Rowdies were, well, not good, losing 0-3 in Charleston and still looking for their first win of the season. The Legion will do their damnedest to keep them waiting. |
| 10 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 11 | +1 | 1-1-1 | The Switchbacks couldn’t find a way past Jordan Farr, who stopped all 5 shots on target, including a PK, and lost 0-1 as a result. A less daunting opponent in Loudoun coming up, but still no pushover. |
| 11 | Rio Grande Valley Toros | 12 | +1 | 0-0-3 | The Toros needed a man advantage to finally get a shot past Ngnepi for the late equalizer in the 1-1 draw with Monterey. They immediately went down to 10 men themselves and that was all she wrote. Off to Detroit this week. |
| 12 | New Mexico United | 16 | +4 | 1-0-0 | New Mexico United were on a bye this week. Again. Next up: at Oakland if the field’s OK. |
| 13 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 14 | +1 | 1-0-2 | Pittsburgh had the bulk of the scoring chances, but fell behind early to Miami and had to wait until the 85th minute to get an equalizer on a banger from Burke Fahling. They play tonight at Tulsa. |
| 14 | FC Tulsa | 17 | +3 | 1-1-1 | Tulsa finally got into the win column, scoring with all three shots on target to beat Loudoun on a disgraceful baseball field surface at ONEOK. Two games Tuesday and Friday will be a major test. |
| 15 | Loudoun United | 13 | -2 | 1-1-1 | Loudoun’s good start came to a crashing halt this week in Tulsa as they lost 0-3. The Switchbacks head east this week in what could be an even matchup. |
| 16 | El Paso Locomotive | 24 | +8 | 1-3-0 | The Locomotive probably shocked themselves as much as anyone else, winning 3-0 in Louisville. Getting away from home was the break they desperately needed. They play in Tulsa this Friday. |
| 17 | Orange County | 19 | +2 | 0-1-2 | The 2-2 result against Las Vegas was fair, although OC had to come back from a deficit twice, with the final equalizer predictably by Milan Iloski. A long cross-country trip to Hartford next. |
| 18 | The Miami FC | 7 | -11 | 0-1-2 | Kyle Murphy needed 2 tries to score in the 23rd minute, but that was all of their shots on target the whole game. The lead was nixed by Pittsburgh with 5 minutes left in regulation, who also had only 2 on target. They get Memphis this week. |
| 19 | Detroit City | 15 | -4 | 1-2-0 | Detroit City gave up a goal and a man (Yazeed Matthews) and couldn’t find a way back despite trying very hard in stoppage time, losing 0-1 to Indy in the home opener. 10 cards total were issued in the game. RGV this week could be another close match. |
| 20 | Oakland Roots | 18 | -2 | 0-1-1 | The Roots’ field was unplayable, so the match against Memphis got postponed. They’d better have it ready for New Mexico, who are stuck on just 1 game played so far. |
| 21 | Hartford Athletic | 21 | 0 | 0-2-1 | Hartford’s attack wasn’t able to find a breakthrough against the Legion in their home opener. 1 point from 3 games and they are already struggling in a competitive Eastern Conference. Orange County could be a turning point this week. |
| 22 | Phoenix Rising | 20 | -2 | 0-1-1 | Phoenix Rising were on a bye this week. A smarting San Diego visits this week. |
| 23 | Las Vegas Lights | 22 | -1 | 0-0-2 | The Lights led twice on goals by Cubo Torres and Pato Botello Faz, but gave up equalizers twice in Orange County. The last 3 goals were scored over just 4 minutes. Indy away this week. |
| 24 | Memphis 901 | 23 | -1 | 0-2-0 | Memphis 901 traveled all the way to Oakland only to see their match postponed. A good week, all things considered. They now travel the opposite direction to Miami. |
