Federico Bernardeschi, Cristian Arango headline the Best of MLS for Week 13

By Favian Renkel and Justin Ruderman

Welcome back to week thirteen 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 we continue rivalry week, week thirteen represents the first week this season to include two matchdays with a full slate of games, Wednesday and Saturday. With all those extra options, these will be the toughest choices yet!

Player of the Week

Justin Ruderman: Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC)

Four shots. 0.53 expected goals. First MLS hat trick.

That was Federico Bernardeschi’s abbreviated stat line in Toronto FC’s 5-1 battering of Canadian rival CF Montreal. Despite missing Toronto’s first game of the week in Nashville due to a red card suspension, his return was better than any other player in the league could manage across two games.

Rather than producing a goal-of-the-week contender as his xG may suggest, it was all the little things that led to a hat trick for the Italian superstar. His first came when Montreal allowed him too much space on the counterattack so he quickly shifted the ball onto his strong left foot and buried the shot. The second was a picture-perfect example of why every footballer is taught from an early age to aim crosses at the back post. If your striker can’t connect, the keeper can’t react in time, and you’ve got your second goal of the game. To complete his hat trick, Bernardeschi ensured arrival at the right place at the right time by trailing the play on another counterattack to complete a nearly unmarked run at the back post.

It’s all in the aura of the bleached cornrows.

Favian Renkel: Chicho Arango (Real Salt Lake)

Arango, just so hot right now. Arango. (Yes, this is a Zoolander reference.)

The Rocky Mountain Rivalry has never been hotter. An eight-goal thriller between the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake fed MLS fans across the league with a…

Source link : https://sbisoccer.com/2024/05/federico-bernardeschi-cristian-arango-headline-the-best-of-mls-for-week-13

Author : Favian Renkel

Publish date : 2024-05-21 15:20:34

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