MLS All-Stars: Week Five

The Easter weekend provided several unbelievable goals, a handful of amazing blocks and some standout performances but who has made the cut?

Here is our team of the week…..

Goalkeeper – Bill Hamid (DC United)

Although substitute Luis Silva took the plaudits after bending in his 91^st-minute winner, Hamid was the real hero for DC United this weekend.

He thwarted Rafael Ramos and Kevin Molino in quick succession in the first half, before pulling off a stunning save to deny Carlos Rivas’ long-distance pile driver.

Right Back – Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders)

Marshall helped his side grind out a clean sheet

For the second successive week the Sounders were reduced to 10 men and Chad ‘Marshalled’ his back four to help grind out a clean sheet against Houston.

As Dynamo pressure intensified, Sounders’ head coach Sigi Schmid eventually introduced a third centre back but it was Marshall who was the headline act.

Centre Back – Nat Borchers (Portland Timbers)

Portland ended FC Dallas’ unbeaten start to the campaign and Borchers was influential at both ends in an all-action display from the experienced defender.

The centre back powered in a header at the far post to score his side’s first goal of the game, before restricting the visitors to very few clear cut chances.

Left Back – Brek Shea (Orlando City)

After his goal scoring exploits for the national team, Shea returned to MLS and showed he can be just as important in front of his own goal.

Chris Pontius led a DC United counter-attack and had the goal gaping but Shea somehow cleared off the line before his goalkeeper saved the follow up – that’s real defensive instinct!

Right Midfield – Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)

He was in front of a sell-out crowd away from home, yet one moment of genius from Morales lit up the Avaya stadium on the stroke of half-time.

After his initial free-kick came back off the wall he set himself again and fired in an unstoppable strike that rattled the underside of the crossbar on the way in – unbelievable tekkers!

Feilhaber set up two goals from corners

Centre Midfield – Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City)

Feilhaber was perhaps fortuitous to set up Dom Dwyer’s first of the campaign after two Philadelphia Union players collided while chasing down his corner.

But not the second time, he showed his class from dead ball situations all game and Krisztian Nemeth’s stoppage-time winner came courtesy of another inch-perfect set-piece.

Centre Midfield – Fatai Alashe (San Jose Earthquakes)

San Jose faced a real selection headache in defence with a number of starters unavailable, but Alashe ensured the make-shift back four were given plenty of protection.

Returning from U23 action for the USA the combative central midfielder showed his dynamism and character, matching USMNT’s Kyle Beckerman throughout – one for the future.

Left Midfield – Shaun Maloney (Chicago Fire)

After starring in our Throwback Thursday feature and playing an influential role for his country, the FA Cup winner led his side to victory in game week five.

Fire’s designated player opened his MLS account in the second-half and had already warned Toronto of his danger after his cheeky back-heel found Joevin Jones for the opener.

Right Forward – Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders)

A moment of pure quality inspired Seattle to victory as their lethal strike force of Martins and USA captain Clint Dempsey combined to devastating effect again.

Dempsey found the Nigerian who spun around Jermaine Taylor before scoring and he could have added a second late on but fired over after his solo run terrified the Houston defenders.

Giovinco (right) in action for Italy

Striker – Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution)

While Martins’ goal was of the highest quality, Agudelo’s finish was a genius at work – as Andy Gray would say, take a bow son!

After latching onto a cross-field ball he slid between two defenders before gently taking the ball into his path and then delicately chipping it over the onrushing goalkeeper.

Left Forward – Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC)

MLS’ top earner finally lived up to his star billing, scored one and assisting another for his new side.

The Italian's goal came at the end of a 17-pass flowing move that tore Chicago Fire apart and buoyed by that, his clipped through ball was expertly finished off by Benoit Cheyrou. 

Images courtesy Rick Yeatts, brent flanders and Sylvain Lecocq, with thanks.