MLS Week 26 Team of the Week
GK: Cody Cropper, New England Revolution
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Cropper had the best week of any goalkeeper in this shortened MLS week 26. Cropper shutout Dom Dwyer, Kaka and the Orlando City lions. In the 4-0 shutout Cropper was able to make three much needed saves and secured the easy win for the Revs to make a very late push for the eastern conference playoffs.
DEF: Matt Polster, Chicago Fire
4x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Polster finally made his return to the Fire backline and have a great week as the Fire beat the Montreal Impact 1-0. Polster and the backline kept the Impact of the board and didn't make goalkeeper Matt Lampson have to make big saves. Polster impacted the offense as he would burst down the right side of the field and put a ball into the box for Basti to get the game winning goal. Polster has easily become one of my favorite defenders in MLS as he is thriving under the radar.
DEF: Dave Romney, Los Angeles Galaxy
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Dave Romney has had to step up as the Galaxy have sold Jelle Van Damme and few weeks back. The 24 year old centerback was one of the best defenders on the field as he slowed the attack of any Rapids forward moving into the attack. Romney only suffered one foul in his full 90 and is someone that shows he can play every week in MLS.
DEF: Johan Kapplehoff, Chicago Fire
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Kappelhoff returning to the lineup for the Fire was a huge plus, along with Polster. Kappelhoff and the Fire backline shutout the Impact who came in on a hot streak. The Impact threw Piatti, Mancosu, and Donadel and the Fire came through with a strong performance to hold them back. Kappelhoff played a full 90 minutes and suffered zero fouls in the win.
DEF: Bradley Diallo, Los Angeles Galaxy
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Bradley Diallo has played a lot of games this year as he has split time between LA and Los Dos. Diallo is a guy who has stepped up in a much needed role at rightback for the Galaxy. Diallo played a full 90 minutes against the Rapids, and along with Romney, had a fantastic game shutting out Colorado. Diallo is a guy who I think can be a major impact for the Galaxy as they look forward to a hopefully improved 2018-2019 season.
MID: Romain Alessadrini, Los Angeles Galaxy
6x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Romain is finally back on the score sheet for the Galaxy. Alessandrini put away a penalty kick in the 18th minute which would result in being the game winning goal. He played some well in the midfield as he, Zardes, and Boateng connected the offense well and put the team on their backs. Alessandrini would later assist on the Galaxy's third goal scored by Gyasi Zardes in the 56th
minute.
MID: Sacha Kljestan, New York Red Bulls
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
With the Red Bulls going to Dallas to take on a team that is struggling, they needed their stars to come up and just play the game they know how to. Kljestan scored a goal in the 43rd minute to start the scoring for the game. Once FC Dallas tied the game up a 1-1, Kljestan than assisted on an Aaron Long goal to put the Red Bulls up 2-1. Kljestan was in the middle of the offense and was the key player for them gaining an away point.
MID: Lee Nguyen, New England Revolution
5x MLS Aces Team of the Week
The Revolution scored four goals against Orlando City this week and U.S. midfielder Lee Nguyen assisted on all four of the goals. First, Nguyen assisted on all three of Kei Kamara's goals in the 26th, 75th, and 89th minutes. Nguyen then finally assisted on Teal Bunbury's stoppage time goal. This might be the best passing performance from any midfielder in this 2017 MLS season. Four assists in extremely impressive in any soccer performance.
MID: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Chicago Fire
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
Bastian has produced much more than what the Fire probably expected out of him. Schweinsteiger put away a goal in the 59th minute and would eventually become the game winning goal in the Fire's 1-0 win. Bastian played a much higher position in the midfield this week and played a great game! Schweinsteiger was the main staple in the middle of good play from everyone else around him. He seems to be the glue that held the Fire attack together this week.
FOR: Gyasi Zardes, Los Angeles Galaxy
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
I spoke of him earlier but what a game from Gyasi Zardes. Zardes came into the game without scoring a goal for a year. Zardes played his best game since returning from his injury this year and if he could do this every game maybe the Galaxy wouldn't be in their current situation. Zardes assisted on Ema Boateng's 23rd minute goal and then scored his own in the 56th minute. Zardes is easily the MLS Aces Player of the Week.
FOR: Kei Kamara, New England Revolution
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
I mentioned his performance before but Kei Kamara had one hell of a game against the Lions of Orlando City. Kamara scored his first ever hat trick in MLS as he put away an early goal and two late ones. Kamara is a guy who I think is an every week starter for an MLS team but needs to be more consistent with his play.
Bench:
GK: Jon Kempin, Los Angeles Galaxy
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-Win
-Shutout
-2 saves
DEF: Benjamin Angoua, New England Revolution
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-Win
-Shutout
DEF: Victor Cabrera, Montreal Impact
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal allowed
-Great defensive game
-Best defender for Montreal
MID: Scott Caldwell, New England Revolution
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 assist
-Great play at the number six position
MID: Emmanuel Boateng, Los Angeles Galaxy
1x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal
FOR: Teal Bunbury, New England Revolution
2x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 goal
FOR: Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls
3x MLS Aces Team of the Week
-1 assist
