Three RSL, two Sporting players highlight PST’s MLS Team of the Week

Forwards

João Plata, Real Salt Lake – Major League Soccer’s Player of the Week, Plata scored twice in Real Salt Lake’s comeback from in Chicago. When healthy, he’s been RSL’s best attacker, and after providing the team’s first and last goals on Saturday, the Ecuadorian’s up to five in six appearances this season.

We could be wrong about: Álvaro Saborío, Real Salt Lake; Patrick Mullins, New England Revolution; Giles Barnes, Houston Dynamo

Midfielders

Diego Valeri, Portland Timbers – The Portland number 10 played a key part in all three goals during the Timbers’ first win of the season: from his cross for Gastón Fernández on the first minute opener; his corner for Futty Danso on Portland’s second; to his ball to the near post for Maxi Urruti’s 94th minute winner. Portland may be struggling to recapture its 2013 form, but Diego Valeri is not.

Kekuta Manneh, Vancouver Whitecaps – The Vancouver winger only played 57 minutes, but in that time he scored one of the weekend’s best goals, fed Darren Mattocks ahead of Vancouver’s penalty kick, and assisted on Pedro Morales’s second goal. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to justify keeping the 19-year-old out of the starting XI.

Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake – Though he was overshadowed by Plata’s exploits, Morales was his typical, brilliant self, with his ability to make himself available for his teammates — be it wide, or dropping deep — particularly valuable. Morales assisted on the team’s opening goal, led his team in passes (77, at an 89 percent clip), and, per Opta, set up five chances for his teammates.

Pedro Morales, Vancouver Whitecaps – It took his three tries, but on the third he had from just beyond San Jose’s penalty area, he made the Earthquakes pay, burying what would become the day’s game-winning goal. Before that, the Chilean had converted from the spot as well as resumed the dominant, tempo-pushing form we saw from the Designated Player before his back problems. Combined with BC Place’s field, Morales may be the most entertaining player in Major League Soccer. Let’s hope the leg injury that hobbled him in Saturday’s second half isn’t serious.

Kyle Beckerman, Real Salt Lake – Like left backs, right backs … goalkeepers, fullbacks, and strikers … we’re committed to keeping a defensive midfielder in this team, since almost every team uses one. This week, however, wasn’t a stand-out week for destroyers (holders, anchors, sitters, what have you), which allowed a typically solid Beckerman week to snare this spot. After a somewhat slow start, Beckerman’s distribution was key to RSL maintaining pressure on the Fire, pressure that eventually produced a 3-2 win.

We could be wrong about: Boniek Garcia, Houston Dynamo; Darlington Nagbe, Portland Timbers; Lee Nguyen, New England Revolution; Harry Shipp, Chicago Fire

Defenders

Chance Myers, Sporting Kansas City – The ball Myers played in ahead of Jacob Peterson’s opening goal was the right back’s highlight package contribution, but a series of smaller contributions made the former first overall pick an easy choice at fullback. Be it with good reads that helped Sporting maintain possession or smart switches of play, Myers even exceeded his normal, solid self. Relative to his competition, this was one of the clearer picks on the board.

Chad Marshall, Seattle Sounders – We already sang Marshall’s praises in our Player of the Week post, so it should be no surprise he ends up here again. As Seattle has struggled to work out its midfield and adjust to a new goalkeeper, Marshall’s experience has helped limit the damage at the back. Through nine weeks, he’s been Major League Soccer’s best defender.

Matt Besler, Sporting Kansas City – Four days after we noted the ever-solid Besler had yet to have a stand-out performance (or, yet to be asked to give one), the Sporting captain played his best game of the season, making up for the absence of partner Aurèlien Collin. His switch of play before the defending champions’ first goal garnered the gasps, but his four defensive plays between the 45th and 55th minutes may have been more important. Chris Schuler had a more prolific day, but Besler still snared our honor.

Raymon Gaddis, Philadelphia Union  – Every time we note the competition at a position wasn’t strong in a given week, it feels like a put-down to the player we select, but often those weeks give us a chance to recognize a player whose steady performances have kept him under the radar. This week, an almost error-free performance from Raymon Gaddis gives us a chance to sing his praise. The versatile Philly defender had a down moment in Saturday’s 75th minute, around which he was his typical, reliable self. Despite the presence of DeAndre Yedlin and Sheanon Williams, he was the day’s best fullback.

We could be wrong about: Josh Williams, Columbus Crew; Chris Schuler, Real Salt Lake; Drew Moor, Colorado Rapids

Goalkeepers

Luis Robles, New York Red Bulls – Goalkeepers for teams playing 11-on-10 shouldn’t be put in a position to make Team of the Week. Good thing for New York they have one of the league’s best shot stoppers, with Robles coming up with a huge second half penalty to keep the Red Bulls even (they would go on to win, 1-0).  Robles finished with three saves, enough to give him the nod in a week where no number one stole the show.

We could be wrong about: Steve Clark, Columbus Crew

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