MLSAces Week 1 - Team of the Week
Week 1 of the 2021 MLS season is in the books and, my goodness, am I happy it’s back. We saw some GOALAZOS (thank you Joao Paulo & Paul Marie), we saw some monster saves (looking at you, Tyton) and, as always, some performances worthy of Team of the Week honors. Though the weekly MLSAces Team of the Week blog took a hiatus during the 2020, it will make a triumphant return for 2021. If you are new to the MLSAces Team of the Week, I select players based on a 4-4-2 formation: forwards often take the limelight, so they get less focus on our Team of the Week. Without further ado, here is the MLSAces Week 1 Team of the Week.
GK: Przemyslaw Tyton - FC Cincinnati
DEF: Adam Lundqvist - Houston Dynamo
DEF: Miles Robinson - Atlanta United
DEF: Bressan - FC Dallas
DEF: Kellyn Acosta - Colorado Rapids
MID: Memo Rodriguez - Houston Dynamo
MID: Russell Canouse - D.C. United
MID: Randall Leal - Nashville SC
MID: Luka Stojanovic - Chicago Fire
FWD: Raul Ruidiaz - Seattle Sounders
FWD: Chicharito - LA Galaxy
Bench:
GK: Andre Blake - Philadelphia Union
DEF: Milton Valenzuela - Columbus Crew SC
DEF: Cristian Gutierrez - Vancouver Whitecaps
MID: Victor Wanyama - CF Montreal
MID: Josh Atencio - Seattle Sounders
FWD: Robert Beric - Chicago Fire
FWD: Gonzalo Higuain - Inter Miami CF
Some of the best Week 1 highlights came from two of the league’s most highly regarded forwards: Ruidiaz and Chicharito. A brace will all but guarantee a spot on the team of the week most of the time, but the forward selections this week did it in impressive fashion. Ruidiaz put away two goals against a strong defense in Minnesota United, while Chicharito tallied up a brace against Beckham’s boys in South Beach. On the defensive side of the pitch, it’s hard not to be impressed by a keeper that makes 10 or more saves in a single match. However, holding onto a tie on the road while making 11 saves is an amazing feat – as such, Tyton was easily my ‘keeper for Week 1. With his incredible performance on short rest, Miles Robinson was easily the Defender of the Week – without him, Atlanta likely would have lost their Week 1 grudge match against Orlando City. I also have to give a shoutout to Friend of the Pod (and left-back?) Kellyn Acosta. Acosta had to fill in on the backline for Sam Vines, who took a knock during pre-season training, and he did it in great fashion. Lastly, the midfielder who jumped off the page this week was Luka Stojanovic. Stojanovic was dropping dimes, scoring goals and, to my eyes, looking like the best player on the field at times.
Week 2 is right around the corner. Who do you agree with? Who did I miss? Let me know in the comments below!
