2017 MLS Week 9 Team of the Week
GK: Bill Hamid, D.C. United
3x Team of the Week
There were two reasons why D.C. United were able to defeat Atlanta this weekend, and one of them is right here. Bill Hamid allowed one early goal but for 99% of this game he looked phenomenal. Hamid made some magical saves and three of his six were GREAT! Hamid is one of the best keepers in MLS and once again he showed why.
DEF: Scott Sutter, Orlando City SC
1x Team of the Week
Scott Sutter has been one of the nicest surprises for Orlando City this season. Orlando City's backline seemed to be set besides rightback, and Sutter has seemed to lock up the position for the purple lions. Sutter played great defense against opposing attackers of Kevin Doyle, Alan Gordon, and Mohammed Saeid. Though those names aren't the best attacking forces, Sutter did a great job in slowing their play and helping Orlando City hold the 2-0 shutout.
DEF: Kemar Lawrence, New York Red Bulls
3x Team of the Week
Lawrence had one of the best balanced weeks from a defender I've seen in a while. Lawrence played great defense with a NYRB backline that only allowed one goal to a decent Chicago Fire attack. Besides holding the Fire and return of Dax McCarty to one goal, Lawrence was also able to score the Red Bull's game winning goal. Another great week from Lawrence adds to him being a top fullback in MLS, the young Jamaican just needs to stay healthy.
DEF: Florian Jungwirth, San Jose Earthquakes
1x Team of the Week
Jungworth has been a major improvement at centerback for San Jose in 2017. Jungwirth had the best week from any defender in week nine. Jungwirth scored the lone goal in San Jose's 1-0 victory over Minnesota United. Jungwirth's goal came off of a corner kick that he was able to nudge in. Jungwirth and the San Jose backline was also able to keep the shutout against the recently hot Minnesota United.
DEF: Graham Zusi, Sporting Kansas City
2x Team of the Week
My final defender this week is the return of Graham Zusi to the MLS Aces Team of the Week. Zusi has developed into a decent MLS fullback and part of the reason why SKC has a top defense. Besides some top notch defense to hold Real Salt Lake to zero goals, Zusi was impactful on offense. Zusi was able to assist on the goal scored by Benny Feilhaber in the 17th minute.
MID: Andrew Jacobson, Vancouver Whitecaps
1x Team of the Week
Jacobson had himself a big time week from a not so big time name. Jacobson scored the game tying goal for the Whitecaps, then assisted on Chirstian Techera's game winner. Having a midfielder that was able to factor in on both of their teams goals and win, what could be better? Overall, Jacobson had himself his best game in a while!
MID: Jack Harrison, New York City FC
1x Team of the Week
The young Englishman had a tough task ahead of him without David Villa in the lineup, but he performed. Harrison scored the game's first goal early on and gave NYCFC some early momentum. After NYCFC let up two goals, then tied the game again, Jack Harrison came up clutch with another goal! A brace for the young midfielder is exactly what the blues of New York needed.
MID: Luciano Acosta, D.C. United
1x Team of the Week
I stated earlier that D.C. United won their game against Atlanta for two reasons... Bill Hamid and Luco Acosta. Luciano Acosta looked masterful in his performance against the new United team in MLS. Acosta put D.C. United forward with a beautiful goal in the 36th minute. 2-1 wasn't enough for D.C. Lucho Acosta assisted on the 55th minute breakaway from Le Toux and would complete his dominate day. The talented midfielder recorded a goal and an assist to lead his team to victory this week.
MID: Yangel Herrara, New York City FC
1x Team of the Week
Herrera might be an unfamiliar name to most MLS fans. NYCFC needed a lot of younger players to step up in the absence of David Villa and Andrea Pirlo from the starting lineup. The 19 year old midfielder stepped his game up this week and was a huge impact on this game. Herrera would score his first ever MLS goal in the 64th minute to tie the game up for NYCFC. He later assisted on Jack Harrison's game winning goal in the 76th minute. A bug day for the youngster resulted in three points for NYCFC.
FOR: Jozy Altidore, Toronto FC
2x Team of the Week
TFC had a tough challenge ahead of them going up against a HOT Houston Dynamo squad. TFC was going to need their stars to come out and play, and they did! Jozy scored the game's first goal in the 16th minute and would later finish his brace in the 32nd minute off of a pass from Giovinco. Jozy looked like his dominate self from last post season and that is what TFC will need moving forward.
FOR: Fanendo Adi, Portland Timbers
3x Team of the Week
The final player on this week's Team of the Week is star striker, Fanendo Adi. Portland was counting on Adi due to the lack of Diego Valeri in this game and because they were going up against FC Dallas. Adi scored the game's first goal in the 30th minute off of an assist from David Guzman. After FC Dallas tied things up in the 61st minute, Adi would come up clutch again and assist on Sebastian Blanco's 71st minute goal. A solid performance from the physical striker is exactly what Portland needed to get a point from an undefeated FC Dallas squad.
Bench:
GK: Alex Bono, Toronto FC
1x Team of the Week
DEF: Raheem Edwards, Toronto FC
1x Team of the Week
DEF: Ike Opara, Sporting Kansas City
1x Team of the Week
MID: Jahmir Hyka, San Jose Earthquakes
2x Team of the Week
MID: Yamil Asad, Atlanta United FC
2x Team of the Week
FOR: Maxi Urruti, FC Dallas
2x Team of the Week
FOR: Gerso Fernandes, Sporting Kansas City
2x Team of the Week
