Team of the Week: MLS Week 14

Week 14 saw Seattle Sounders slip up in Kansas to allow DC United to reclaim the lead in the Supporters’ Shield race but who makes our MLS Team of the Week?

Melia has made himself Sporting KC's No.1

Goalkeeper – Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City)

After being plucked out of obscurity to solve Sporting KC’s goalkeeping dilemma, Melia made six saves to keep his fourth cleansheet of the season and earn a 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders.

The keeper’s sixth straight appearance for Sporting Kansas City also meant he has now played as many games this season as he did in total across his first five MSL campaigns.

Right Back – Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers)

Powell has picked up a band of followers this season and his energy on the right of the Timbers defence has been a key feature of their strong home performances this campaign.

However, the youngster can also defend and he was on top form on Saturday night making an assist and helping his side to a cleansheet in their victory over high-flying New England Revolution.

Centre Back – Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps)

 Vancouver have kept more cleansheets than any other MLS side this campaign and Waston has been the key reason for this at the heart of their defence.

After picking up a host of bookings early on, the Costa Rican has improved his discipline and produced another impressive display as the ‘Caps picked up their seventh shutout in LA.

Centre Back – Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)

The clash between the Western Conference’s two highest scoring sides ended 1-0 largely due to a resolute defensive performance from Sporting KC, marshalled by Matt Besler.

Besler and co. limited Seattle to just six shots on goal throughout the match helping to end a nine-match winless streak against the Sounders in MLS, dating back to 2009.

Villafana has made two assists this season

Left Back – Jorge Villafana (Portland Timbers)

Not to be done by Powell on the Timbers’ right flank, Villafana produced a delightful free-kick to let Fanendo Adi head Portland into the lead four minutes from time.

The Timbers might have the most exciting full-back pairing in MLS at the moment, and at just 25 Villafana could become a huge part of their side for a long time to come.

Centre Midfield – Thomas McNamara (New York City FC)

Making his first MLS start in over a year, McNamara showed no signs of feeling the pressure as he produced a delightful display that included a spectacular equalising goal.

New York City looked set to extend their 11-match winless run until McNamara curled the ball past Bryan Sylvestre from fully 30 yards allowing Patrick Mullins to bag the winner.

Centre Midfield – Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo)

When Owen Coyle introduced Garcia with Houston 1-0 down at half-time even he can’t have hoped for the midfielder to provide the equaliser and assist Dynamo’s second and third goals.

Yet that is just what the Honduran managed as he inspired Houston to a 4-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls and took his tally to two goals and three assists for the year.

Centre Midfield – Ignacio Piatti (Montreal Impact)

When Piatti plays well, Montreal tend to do well – low and behold Piatti had a great week and so did Impact as they won back-to-back games and moved within two points of the play-offs.

The franchise’s designated player kicked things off with a late winner against their Canadian rivals Vancouver before providing the game-winning assist against Columbus on Sunday.

Bruin is Houston's top scorer this year

Striker – Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto)

Toronto fans will have expected a great deal from a man being paid a reported $7 million dollars a year, but even they can’t have hoped that Giovinco would have the impact he has.

The Italian’s match-winning brace against conference-leading DC United took him to seven goals for the season and he has been directly involved in 13 of his sides’ 19 goals so far.

Striker – Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)

Bruin seems to improve week after week under Owen Coyle and his brace this time out takes him to seven for the season, one ahead of Giles Barnes who has been the centre of attention in Houston.

In a performance that also saw him provide the assist for Garcia’s equaliser, Bruin was a constant menace for the Red Bulls’ defence and is our star man in Week 14.

Striker – Fanendo Adi (Portland Timbers)

He was only on the pitch for 24 minutes but that was enough for Portland’s designated players to turn the game decisively in his sides favour with two late goals against New England.

The first a delightful flicked header and the second an instinctive poacher’s finish, Adi now has now got six goals this season just three behind his total for the entire 2014 campaign.

Images courtesy of R.Yeatts, Rich Lam and Scott Halleran, with thanks.