MLS Aces Week 29 Team of the Week
GK: Bobby Shuttleworth, Minnesota United FC
4x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Bobby Shuttleworth may not have been the keeper that Minnesota fans wanted going into the season but I'm sure at this point he has won over some Loon hearts. This week Shuttleworth and the Minnesota defense only allowed one goal to a struggling FC Dallas team. Shuttleworth was KEY in the victory as he was asked to record six saves. Shuttleworth made save after save keeping Dallas players off the board and securing three points for the Loons.
DEF: Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Atlanta United FC
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
One of the best defenders in MLS right now. LGP (let's hope that sticks), has lead Atlanta defensively in their most recent surge of dominance across MLS. Pirez this week was part of an Atlanta backline that allowed zero goals to both the Galaxy and the Impact. Atlanta had two shutouts in the same week and Pirez has been the best defender for them in those games.
DEF: Chris Tierney, New England Revolution
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Chris Tierney has been quiet all season long but the veteran left-back has made it to the team of the week list with him and the Revs defense only allowing one goal to Toronto FC. Holding Toronto to one goal is a great accomplishment and Tierney was the best defender in this game. Besides dominating on offense, Tierney made his impact on offense as well. He record two assists on goals scored by Lee Nguyen and Kei Kamara in the 82nd and 87th minutes respectively.
DEF: Graham Zusi, Sporting Kansas City
6x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Graham Zusi didn't have the most impressive week defensively but you can say it wasn't bad. Zusi being a converted right-back will show you his defensive weakness at times but he has definitely impressed at times. This week Zusi and the dominating SKC defense only allowed one goal to the LA Galaxy. Zusi played respectively as none of the Galaxy attackers could get going (not like they've gotten anything going all season long). Zusi added an assist in this game as he assisted on Daniel Salloi's 18th minute goal.
DEF: Jerome Thiesson, Minnesota United FC
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
The final defender this week was the most impressive in fan favorite Jerome Thiesson. Thiesson didn't factor in on the offense but on defense he seemed to be everywhere. Thiesson didn't allow the likes of Maxi Urruti, Michael Barrios, and Tesho Akindele to get going. FC Dallas has been struggling and they ran into a brick wall of Thiesson this week. His defensive positioning as been phenomenal and is one bright spot on the Minnesota season.
MID: Yamil Asad, Atlanta United FC
4x MLS Aces Team of the Week
People talk about the goal scoring of Josef Martinez and the play making ability of Miguel Almiron but they don't talk about the over soccer abilities of Yamil Asad. This week against the Galaxy, Asad went off and was all over the score sheet. First, Asad assisted on Josef Martinez's 13th minute goal to get the game started. Asad followed that up with two goals coming in the 16th and 20th minutes. His day would be over as he assisted on a Miguel Almiron goal in the 43rd minute.
MID: Ignacio Piatti, Montreal Impact
9x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Montreal started week 29 off by shocking the league leading Toronto FC 5-3. One man that had a lot to do with those five goals in Argentinean midfielder Nacho Piatti. Piatti started the game off with a 10th minute goal that made it 1-0. He would follow it up with a goal in the 24th minute that put the Impact out in front 3-0. Piatti also assisted on two goals in this game, the goals were scored by Marco Donadel and Anthony Jackson-Hamel.
MID: Paul Arriloa, D.C. United
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
In Arriola's short MLS stint he has impressed quickly, but this was his best performance yet. Arriola wasn't the most prominent name on the D.C. score sheet but he did factor in on two of Patrick Mullin's four goals. Arriola assisted on the first two Mullins goals coming in the 57th and 60th minutes. Arriola played well with Luciano Acosta in the midfield and I think that they will be a good, young combination next year for D.C.
MID: Federico Higuain, Columbus Crew
5x MLS Aces Team of the Week
MLS media are ruling Higuain out of the Columbus Crew roster next season... but he's making it more and more difficult as the season goes on. This week, Higuain racked up three assists on all three of the Crew's goals against New York. First, Higuain assisted on a Jonathan Mensah goal, then the Justin Meram strike to beat Robles, and finally, then the cross that Josh Williams headed home. Higuain was passing the ball all around park and helped beat NYRB 3-2.
FOR: Christian Ramirez, Minnesota United FC
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
It's a Loon, it's a plane, no... it's Christian Ramirez. Superman had a great week for the Loons as he returned in superhero fashion. Ramirez score the game tying goal in the 24th minute but he wasn't done there. Ramirez then assisted on the following two goals that were scored by Miguel Ibarra and Ethan Finlay. Ramirez has had a very good first season in MLS and I expect many more great performances from him in the near future.
FOR: Patrick Mullins, D.C. United
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
I mentioned him before but here he is. Patrick Mullins had a great week as he put away all four goals for D.C. United as they beat San Jose 4-0. Mullins was absolutely dominant and really benefited from Luciano Acosta and Paul Arriola pushing the ball up the field. Mullins came away with goals in the 57th, 60th, 68th, and 88th minutes. What a week from Mullins!
Bench:
GK: Tyler Deric, Houston Dynamo
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal allowed
-6 saves
-Tie
DEF: Keegan Rosenberry, Philadelphia Union
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal allowed
-1 assist
DEF: Andraz Struna, New York City FC
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal allowed
-1 assist
MID: Diego Valeri, Portland Timbers
10x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-2 goals
MID: Chris Pontius, Philadelphia Union
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-2 goals
FOR: Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Minnesota United FC
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-2 goals
-1 assist
FOR: Fredy Montero, Vancouver Whitecaps
6x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal
-1 assist
