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Welcome back to Week No. 15 of Justin and Favian’s Weekly MLS Awards where SBI staff writers Justin Ruderman and Favian Renkel bring you a glimpse at the best of each week in MLS. Can you believe we’re halfway through the season already? No time to waste in this double gameweek including Matchday 17 and 18, so let’s get into it!
**Player of the Week**
Justin Ruderman: Chicho Arango (RSL)
Chicho Arango was given his first rest of the season midweek but he didn’t need two matches to earn this Player of the Week nomination. Led by a goal of the year candidate (which Favian will have more on), Chicho bagged a hat trick at home against Austin FC to go top of the Golden Boot race with a staggering 16 goals through 17 games. If your somebody who cares for secondary assists, he got one of those two.
Favian Renkel: Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF)
In what seems to be Inter Miami’s worst month since Lionel Messi joined the team, Jordi Alba delivered a performance that provided some optimism that the Herons can still pick up points in MLS while nearly half of the players are away at international tournaments. The 35-year-old looked like his old self, easily beating the outside back from St. Louis on every offensive possession. With Miami seeking leaders, it appears Jordi Alba will be the player to step up this next month now that he seems fully healed from the injury that set the Spaniard back at least a month.
**Young Player of the Week**
JR: Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution)
A first MLS goal has a high likelihood of landing you a Young Player of the Week nomination from me and nobody deserves it more than Esmir Bajraktarevic. The 19-year-old winger found himself furthest forward as the Revs pushed forward in transition, receiving a delicious pass from striker Giacomo Vrioni which forced him to slow down to control at the top of Nashville’s box. With momentum lost, Bajraktarevic gave his defender a little shimmy of the hips to open up a shooting lane before smashing in a first goal on his weak right foot.
FR: Ted Ku-DiPietro (D.C. United)
This selection became crucial, especially after the injury scare to Christian Benteke in the 2-2 tie against Toronto FC this past weekend. Down 2-0, Benteke was subbed off with 13 goals already this season. DC United now faces an age-old question: who will score the goals to support Benteke this season? United found two goals from unlikely sources. Klich scored a penalty in Benteke’s absence, and Ted Ku-DiPietro scored his second goal of the season, becoming the first DC United player besides Benteke to have two goals this season.
**Goal of the Week**
JR: Mateusz Bogusz (LAFC)
While I appreciate Favian’s generosity below, his choice wasn’t the only Goal of the Year candidate this week! After a less than eventful week in the golazo department in week fourteen of our awards, week fifteen brought at least five goals worthy of a Goal of the Week nomination. Bogusz topped the lot. Hugo Lloris’ began the stunning move by pinging his distribution 60-yards on a rope to the right foot of Cristian Olivera who controlled the ball with one touch toward the sideline. As the Uruguayan turned away from goal, he played a backheel into the path of an onrushing Denis Bouanga. The reigning Golden Boot winner received a bit of luck (which Bogusz admitted postgame is necessary in any great goal) as his potential loss of possession turned into a pass to the feet of Bogusz who let rip from Calabasas. Pace, dip, curve, knuckle, swerve. GOLAZO!
FR: Chicho Arango (Real Salt Lake)
I’m going to let Justin choose the same goal if he wants to in this week’s write-up. There aren’t many goals that make me stop in my tracks and think we just witnessed greatness. Fighting for the MVP this season, this goal puts the Colombian in the pole position to win the award halfway through the season.
**Team of the Week**
JR: LAFC
There is no MLS team in better form than LAFC. Currently on a seven-game win streak in all competitions (5 in MLS), the Black and Gold aren’t just winning, they’re doing it with ease. Of the seven wins, the last six (all 5 in MLS) have all been clean sheets, setting club records for the longest shutout streak in MLS (480 minutes) and all competitions (575 minutes). 9.5 hours of football. No goals allowed. This team just never feels at risk of losing anymore.
FR: NYCFC
Nick Cushing went from being the obvious pick as the first head coach to be fired in the 2024 MLS season to achieving the most dominant win of the week, now potentially looking like he deserves an extension. With two coaches already fired this MLS season, it seems Nick Cushing will defy the predictions from last season. NYCFC is a young and talented team firing on all cylinders. They know how to leverage their home field with late comebacks, finding ways to win even when it’s “ugly.”
**Best Thing We Saw This Week**
JR: Kellyn Acosta is “on it”
When we came up with the idea to add a “Best thing we saw…”.
