Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy)
The only LA Galaxy Killa P not to be selected to the MLS All-Star team enjoyed the most productive week of the trio leading up to the break in consecutive 3-2 Galaxy victories. Setting up his fellow Killa P’s, Riqui Puig and Gabriel Pec, for a goal each this week ahead of their trip to Columbus, Joseph Paintsil was the key to Galaxy’s six-point week with his own pair of goals in addition to a trident of assists. On Wednesday against Colorado, Paintsil didn’t misplace a single pass (21/21) as he scored and assisted the game-winning goal in LA’s beautiful retro kits. Then on Saturday against Portland, Paintsil dropped a Man of the Match performance, assisting both Puig and Pec while submitting his own Goal of the Week nomination for the game-winner. When Paintsil first signed with Galaxy, I was surprised a player of his caliber was choosing MLS. I expected him to head to the Premier League or the like. Instead, the Ghanaian saw a vision in Los Angeles of what the Killa P’s could be and as we approach the home stretch of the MLS season, they have Galaxy sitting at the top of the Western Conference table.
Young Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Federico Redondo (Inter Miami CF)
Federico Redondo opened the scoring against Toronto with the assist of the week to Diego Gomez and he was off and running. After bypassing all eleven TFC players with his long-ball assist at the end of the first half, Redondo began the second half with a thumping back-post header from a free kick followed by a late-arriving run into the box to finish off a wonderful Inter Miami team move in a 3-1 win which he played every part of. Watch out Paris, Federico Redondo is heading into the Olympics in peak form.
Goal of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Mateusz Bogusz (LAFC)
Mateusz Bogusz is back with a bang! Bouncing back from his “slump” of two games without a goal contribution — only qualifying as a slump due to the preceding ten consecutive games recording a contribution — Bogusz earned his third Goal of the Week nomination from me this season with a stunning volley from the edge of the box in Seattle. Every part of this goal is perfection from Bogusz. As LAFC set up their free kick, he took up an intelligent position about ten yards outside of the box, ready to clean up any loose balls, prevent a quick counterattack, or keep the pressure on Seattle if the ball popped out during the course of the play. When his preparation paid off and the Sounders’ headed clearance came looping towards Bogusz, the Polish midfielder adjusted his body shape, taking note of the goalkeeper being out of position, and guided his volley through traffic by connecting flush with his laces. Many of these things could go easily unnoticed, but they’re the reason Bogusz is having the breakout season of his career in Los Angeles with 13 goals and 5 assists. Without exaggeration, Mateusz Bogusz is one of the biggest MLS All-Star snubs ever.
Team of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Philadelphia Union
Ten games winless, repeated choke jobs, and calls for Jim Curtin to lose his job. That was the situation in Philadelphia heading into a week in which they desperately needed a response ahead of the Leagues Cup break. Luckily, they produced one in a big way! Led by back-to-back hat tricks from Tai Baribo and Daniel Gazdag, the Union produced two resounding wins — 5-1 against New England and 3-0 against Nashville — to essentially rescue their season with a critical six-point week. Philadelphia entered the week at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and ended the week one point out of a playoff spot. All of a sudden, the season has meaning again. Also, some 14-year-old kid on the Union broke the record as the youngest professional athlete to debut in any top-division North American league on Saturday. Favian will have more on that below.
