Goalkeeper: Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City)
Melia continues to validate the decision to install him as the starting goalkeeper with each passing week. The former Chivas USA backup made six saves as Sporting warded off Seattle to claim a 1-0 victory on Saturday. At this point, it looks like the goalkeeping job is Melia’s to lose in the medium-term.
Defenders: Jeb Brovsky (New York City FC), Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Jorge Villafaña (Portland Timbers)
Brovsky earned his place in the Team of the Week with a piece of intelligent recognition along the sideline. His quick throw caught out the Philadelphia defense and paved the way for Patrick Mullins’ late winner in the 2-1 victory over the Union on Saturday. … Waston mustered his imperious best to lead the Whitecaps to a 1-0 victory at LA Galaxy on Saturday. The robust defender made 14 clearances as the visitors held the Galaxy without a shot on goal. … Besler cut a similarly defiant figure in the Sporting back four, though he tended to his duties with a touch more precision. His return to form over the past few weeks bodes well for a Sporting side still trying to stitch things together from week to week. … Villafaña reacted with considerable emotion after Fanendo Adi nodded home his precise free kick to send the Timbers on their way to a 2-0 victory over New England on Saturday. The delivery captured Villafaña’s best trait in a nutshell: tempting service from the wide areas.
Midfielders: Andrés Romero (Montréal Impact), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Kekuta Manneh (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Several Montréal players put themselves forward for consideration this week, but Romero sealed his place with his influence in both victories. His cool finish over Steve Clark paved the way for the Impact’s first away win under Frank Klopas. … Clark functions as the energetic touchstone in the Dynamo midfield, but he also springs forward occasionally to make his presence felt in the final third. He corralled home the vital second goal from a Boniek Garcia corner and then set up Will Bruin for the late insurance goal to help the Dynamo secure a 4-2 win over New York Red Bulls on Friday. … Giovinco sparkled yet again to spur Toronto FC to a 2-1 victory at D.C. United on Saturday. His persistent influence inspired the Reds once again, while his sharpness in the final third ultimately separated the teams on the night. If the season ended today, then the Italian international would take home the MLS MVP award. … Manneh edges out Boniek Garcia for the last place in midfield with his work on the break during the first half of the triumph in Carson. He threatened a couple of times and thumped home the angled winner to give the Whitecaps a precious three points.
Forwards: Fanendo Adi (Portland Timbers), Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)
Adi took a bit longer than expected to warm to this season and received deserved criticism for his performances, but he popped up at the right time on Saturday to deliver the points against New England. The target man struck twice in the final 10 minutes to settle the proceedings and lay the foundation for the Timbers’ first three-match winning streak as a MLS side. … Bruin just finds a way to score goals. His haul for the season now stands at seven after he scored twice in the 4-2 victory over the Red Bulls on Friday.
