MLS Aces Week 33 Team of the Week
GK: Tyler Deric, Houston Dynamo
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Tyler Deric finished the regular season on a tear! Deric once again made the team of the week with a shutout performance against the Chicago Fire. Deric seemed to be everywhere and recorded four saves in the win. Tyler Deric really has a ton of talent and playing consistent minutes has really helped his form. A great week from the defensive leader of this club and lead to him finishing the season strong heading into the playoffs.
DEF: Matt Hedges, FC Dallas
7x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Matt Hedges has quietly had himself a good season even with FC Dallas not being as good as we predicted. This week FC Dallas dominated LA both offensively and defensively. Hedges factored in on both as he and the Dallas backline only allowed one early goal. Then Hedges went on to score a header and factor in on his team's dominant scoring.
DEF: Leonardo, Houston Dynamo
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
The good ol' vet was very good for Houston. Deric made some good saves but Leonardo stepped up huge this week in the shutout for Houston. Leonardo looked like his old form when he won MLS Cup with the Galaxy. This week he stepped up huge factoring in on two of his team's three goals. Leonardo scored the game's opening goal in the 2nd minute and then went on to assist on Romell Quioto's 68th minute goal.
DEF: Liam Ridgewell, Portland Timbers
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Speaking of goal scoring centerbacks... the captain for the Timbers had a very good game. Ridgewell and the Portland backline allowed one goal to the Whitecaps and locked up 1st place in the Western Conference. Ridgewell looked like the star centerback we know he is when healthy. Ridgewell scored the game tying goal for the Timbers as he headed home a ball in the 32nd minute.
DEF: Fabinho, Philadelphia Union
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Fabinho got way less minutes this season go to the emergence of Wijnaldum but when he gets his chances, he performs. Fabinho and the Union backline only allowed one goal to Orlando City and they absolutely crushed them on all sides of the field. Fabinho also got down the sideline a bit and added an assist to the box score. Fabinho assisted on Sapong's 26th minute goal and put in a great performance from that left side.
MID: Mauro Diaz, FC Dallas
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Heeeeeee's baaaaack! This is the first time Diaz looked like the Diaz we know and love. Mauro Diaz was all over the place for Dallas as he factored in on three of Dallas's five goals. Diaz assisted on Roland Lamah's 49th minute goal and then assisted on Michael Barrios's 68th minute goal. After doing all of that he put away a penalty kick in the 73rd minute to truly finish the destruction of the Galaxy.
MID: Nicolas Lodiero, Seattle Sounders
4x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Lodiero put in a great performance heading into the playoffs. Lodiero scored two of Seattle's three goals and helped lock up the second seed in the Western Conference. Nico put away a penalty kick in the 64th minute, followed by an extra time goal to make it 3-0. Lodiero is one of the most talented players in this league and this week showed that skill.
MID: Ilsinho, Philadelphia Union
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
This may have been his last game in a Union jersey, and if it was then that was one hell of a way to go out. Ilsinho looked more like Giovinco out there as he scored two goals and assisted on another to help lead the Union to a 6-1 win. Ilsinho scored the game's opening goal and then his second in the 63rd minute. His assist came in the 6th minute on a goal scored by Fafa Picault.
MID: Fafa Picault, Philadelphia Union
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
And here is Picault. Picault had a great game himself as he too scored two goals and assisted on one goal. Picault scored his goals in the 6th and 38th minutes. Picault would then go on to assist a CJ Sapong goal in the 26th minute. Fafa is a guy that the Union need to build around in 2018 because he is young and talented enough to start every week.
FOR: David Villa, New York City FC
9x MLS Aces Team of the Week
My favorite striker and yours, David Villa once again did all he could to lead NYCFC to play their best. Villa had himself a brace as NYCFC and the Crew tied 2-2. Villa did all he could as he tied the game up with an 18th minute goal and then gave NY the lead in the 45th minute. Villa did have an awful dab in the game though so... there's that.
FOR: CJ Sapong, Philadelphia Union
5x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Here is the Union's leader for most goals in a single season. CJ Sapong played balls to the wall and he went out and scored a brace in the Union's 6-1 victory over Orlando City. Sapong's goals were fantastic and he looked like the leader that the Union needed all season long. I would love to see Sapong have a consistent season because he could score 30 if he played a full season like he did this week.
Bench:
GK: Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal allowed
-4 saves
-Win
DEF: Michael Murrillo, New York Red Bulls
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal allowed
-1 goal
DEF: Kelvin Leerdam, Seattle Sounders
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-0 goals allowed
-1 assist
MID: Roland Lamah, FC Dallas
4x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-2 goals
MID: Federico Higuain, Columbus Crew
6x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-2 assists
FOR: Danny Hoesen, San Jose Earthquakes
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal
-1 assist
FOR: Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Earthquakes
4x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal
-1 assist
