Welcome back to week nineteen 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. As the schedule approaches the annual MLS All-Star game, chaos starts to ensue. This week that played out in the form of blowouts across the league.
Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake)
This is how you respond to adversity. Mere hours after reports surfaced of Diego Luna shockingly being left off of the U.S. Men’s Olympic roster headed to Paris, the 20-year-old produced the game of his life with a hat trick of assists capped off by a wonderful goal to lead RSL to a 5-2 victory at home.
From producing the fifth-fastest goal in MLS history with an assist inside 45 seconds to a couple of gorgeous set-piece deliveries to dancing for his son in celebration of his goal, Saturday was the perfect way to bounce back from devastating news for Luna. With all that, it almost seems like a tidbit to add that he also produced the best goal of Matchday 24 to kick off his historic week on Wednesday (before being left off the Olympic roster).
Nonetheless, I could not end this section any better than Max Bretos announced Luna’s goal on Saturday, so I’ll leave it to him:
Favian Renkel: Gabriel Pec (LA Galaxy)
The Galaxy scored three goals this week, and Gabriel Pec scored all three of them.
Young Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union)
Since he was 17 years old, Jack McGlynn has been fighting for minutes with the Philadelphia Union first-team amid stiff competition. Now 21, the homegrown product is having a career year as one of Philly’s most consistent contributors, if not the most consistent.
Favian Renkel: Logan Farrington (FC Dallas)
If you know who Logan Farrington is, you probably play Sorare or Fantasy MLS because this is a player many MLS fans have never heard of.
Goal of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Gabriel Pec (LA Galaxy)
Sometimes goals are more about the assist than the finish. In a week of MLS goals more focused on quantity than quality, I am using my GOTW nomination to focus on what has to be the assist of the season by Mauricio Cuevas to Gabriel Pec.
Favian Renkel: Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati)
When you put one of the best defensive midfielders the world has ever seen on skates to score a goal, the league is put on notice. Lucho Acosta is back and he’s playing as well as ever.
Team of the Week
Justin Ruderman: FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati lost five starters from last season’s Supporters’ Shield-winning team in the offseason but have not missed a beat under reigning MLS Coach of the Year Pat Noonan.
Favian Renkel: Columbus Crew
Talk about the yellow and black machine, and no, I’m not talking about Borussia Dortmund. I’m talking about the Columbus Crew.
