After winning back-to-back matches, The Crew continues to move up in various MLS power rankings:
The Black & Gold is up one spot to 13th in SI.com's rankings:
"It's hard what to make of the Crew. Their two wins have come over a 10-man Impact side and a fragile Toronto club that has one eye on the CONCACAF Champions League. The back line is holding tight, and Shaun Francis is emerging as one of the league's premier left backs, but the attack is still far from a polished product."
Soccer by Ives also has the Crew up one spot to number 12:
"It's hard to put too much stock in Columbus' back-to-back wins since the triumphs came over lowly Toronto and Montreal. The back line anchored by captain Chad Marshall, though, has looked steady in the two shutouts. And coach Robert Warzycha was no doubt pleased to see Bernardo Anor find net while filling in for the injured Dilly Duka."
In ESPNSoccernet's rankings, Columbus is just behind the LA Galaxy in the number 11 spot:
"Bernardo Anor got the critical goal in the Crew's 1-0 victory over Toronto, but the team got perhaps an even bigger boost from stand-in central defender Eric Gehrig, who came up big several times to preserve the shutout."
Finally, the Crew cracks the top ten in MLSsoccer.com's edition of power rankings:
"OK, so the Crew took advantage of a TFC team was absolutely gassed. But piling on the teams lower in the standings is crucial for the Crew at this point, considering it's about to get interesting against the Red Bulls"
Chad Marshall takes offense to others calling the Black & Gold's defense slow, writes the Columbus Dispatch's Adam Jardy.
Jardy also writes that Dilly Duka may see time in Saturday's match against New York as he returns from injury.
With William Hesmer still out due to injury, Andy Gruenebaum doesn't look to relinquish his starting spot any time soon writes MLSsoccer.com's Craig Merz.
Finally, Crew midfielder Bernardo Añor is feeling confident after his second career goal last week against Toronto.
