Welcome back to Week 27 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. This matchday saw some teams emerge as contenders while others faded as pretenders, along with a lead that might remain unchallenged for the rest of the season. Here is a closer look at the action that occurred:
Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew)
Another week, another Cucho Hernández masterclass. In Crew’s trip to the nation’s capital, Cucho netted two goal contributions in three minutes to flip a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead. The first was my goal of the week and the second was certainly the assist of the week as well (though not quite as nice as the one he nearly pulled off in Campeones Cup). The Colombian is simply an all-around baller. In addition to his goal contributions he created five chances, completed five successful dribbles, drew three fouls, and won 12 duels — all match highs. Should Cucho win MLS MVP?
Favian Renkel: Christian Benteke (DC United)
Benteke, hmmm yea, thank you very much. In a matchup where the Columbus Crew sought revenge after their Campeones Cup loss, they faced D.C. United, looking to take advantage of Inter Miami’s recent struggles, as the first-place team had dropped points in their last three matches. The Crew, coming off a meeting with President Biden, desperately needed all three points in D.C. However, that proved to be a difficult task. After nearly two weeks without scoring, Christian Benteke stepped up, netting two goals against what many consider the best team in MLS, furthering his lead in the MLS Golden Boot race. The 33-year-old Belgian striker now has 21 goals this season, three ahead of second-place Denis Bouanga. With most teams only having three games left, it would take a miracle for Benteke to lose his lead. This may well be the match that secured the Golden Boot for him. If a player secures silverware, they’ve got to be a player of the week, right?
Young Player of the Week
JR: David Martinez (LAFC)
David Martinez has not seen many MLS minutes since being sent off early in the season following his first league goal in Colorado but is starting to take the opportunities he is given. In his past three matches, Martinez has scored his second and third league goals including a clinical curling finish on the counterattack in Cincinnati — the exact type of goal Steve Cherundolo wants him to score regularly. I placed Martinez #10 on my 22 Under 22 list but perhaps it should have been higher.
FR: Caden Clark (CF Montreal)
Caden Clark and a young CF Montréal squad are hitting their stride at the most crucial point of the season. With 37 points and a game in hand over Toronto FC, they’ve got a strong chance to make the playoffs. Can you believe Caden is still only 21? Despite being on his third MLS team, he has plenty of time to reach his full potential. His recent goal-scoring form could be the spark his career has been waiting for, and with a playoff berth on the line, the momentum could be building. Clark has netted three goals in his last three starts, and that’s not all—he’s also registered an assist in each of those games. Some fans are even saying that Caden Clark is saving CF Montreal’s season.
Goal of the Week
JR: Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew)
Player of the week, goal of the week. This is becoming a trend. In another display of brilliance, Cucho Hernández dropped his equalizer into a bucket in the back of Alex Bono’s net with the curl of a dreidel on Hanukkah. If you have never played soccer, you may not realize how difficult the skill is. If you have, you certainly do.
FR: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
“Messi shoots and he scores.” Nothing better than Lionel Messi scoring. Messi attempted this shot twice before finally nailing it on the third try, clearly aiming for a highlight-reel moment. Just look at his celebration—it shows how much that goal meant to him. This team isn’t just looking to win, they want to do it in style.
Team of the Week
JR: LAFC
A trip to Cincinnati three days after lifting the U.S. Open Cup in Los Angeles could have easily been a trap game for LAFC. Instead, sporting a rotated lineup, LAFC secured a playoff berth for the sixth time in seven years by becoming the first Western Conference team to win at TQL Stadium this season. The stars still made their impact with Denis Bouanga providing the winning goal off the bench with an assist from Olivier Giroud but it was 18-year-old Venezuelan phenom David Martinez who got the scoring started with an assist from Lewis O’Brien. Undoubtedly the player of the game, O’Brien looks like an inspired summer signing from the Black and Gold in midfield as they look primed for another deep playoff run. Is LAFC the favorite in the Western Conference?
FR: New York City FC
What a “Blue Beatdown” this was. NYCFC’s dominant performance on the last matchday left no doubt—heading into the MLS playoffs, they’re clearly the top team in New York. Tayvon Gray was outstanding at right back, contributing both goals and key crosses, while Alonso Martínez went from third on the depth chart to first, making this team one of the most exciting to watch. Nick Cushing has his squad firing on all cylinders, and this statement win at Red Bull Arena showed the league that NYCFC can compete with anyone. A draw against Inter Miami has done wonders for their confidence, and it’s showing. NYCFC is a contender if they can get in the top four playoff spots with some home field advantage.
Best thing we saw this week
JR: Red Bulls streak lives on
Despite getting battered at home in the Hudson River Derby, New York Red Bulls secured their berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs for a record fifteenth consecutive season. As funny as that is, it is still an impressive achievement considering only three teams in all of American sports have accomplished the same since 2000.
FR: Kei Kamara is still scoring important goals
When a 40-year-old player is still competing professionally, you’d expect them to be past their prime. But not Kei Kamara. The LAFC striker has featured in 33 games this season, scoring eight goals—one of which helped LAFC break their finals “curse” and lift a trophy. It’s incredible to see Kamara still producing and contributing to a championship-winning team, especially considering he’s twice the age of some of his teammates. The big question is, if Kei is still performing at this level, does he come back for another season.
