Any MLS fan expecting another wild week in terms of goals would have been disappointed this past week by the relative lack of scoring. However, it was still a very interesting week – especially with Toronto FC striker Sebastian Giovinco continuing his dominance. Giovinco and Columbus’ Kei Kamara both struck again this week as they continue to battle for the MLS goal-scoring lead. Beyond those two, there wasn’t much in the way of offense this past week. Here is a look at the best fantasy performers at each position from this past weekend in the MLS.
GK: Luis Robles, New York Red Bulls
The Red Bulls goalkeeper was one of four MLS netminders to record a clean sheet win over the weekend as his team won 2-0 over Orlando City. His four saves against Orlando City SC earned him the top spot among them. Honorable mention went to Colorado’s Clint Irwin and New England’s Brad Knighton for making three saves each in clean sheet wins. Honorable Mention: Clint Irwin, Colorado; Brad Knighton, New England
D: Chris Tierney, New England
Tierney was an absolute monster on the back end for New England as he helped keep an explosive New York City FC attack in check. David Villa was kept under wraps as New England won 1-0. Tierney’s defensive play earned him top spot on this list but he also had a pair of shots in a relatively quiet week for MLS defenders.
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D: Anthony Wallace, New York Red Bulls
Wallace played the full 90 minutes in the Red Bulls’ 2-0 win over Orlando City SC. Like Tierney, his defensive play in a clean sheet win helped him earn a spot on this list with his teammate Damien Perrinelle earning honorable mention. Orlando City has had problems at the offensive end this season, scoring just 23 goals, which is the second-fewest in the Western Conference. Honorable Mention: Justen Glad, Real Salt Lake; Damien Perrinelle, New York Red Bulls
M: Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake
The RSL midfielders carried the play in their 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo with a combined four points between Morales and Joao Plata. RSL is still six points back of the Portland Timbers for the sixth and final playoff spot, which means they still have plenty of work to do. They will need to lean on Morales and Plata even more moving forward if they are going to make a run at a postseason spot.
M: Joao Plata, Real Salt Lake
Morales and Plata each had a goal and an assist in their win while New York Red Bulls’ midfielder Dax McCarty earned an honorable mention with two assists. Vancouver’s Kekutah Manneh also gets the same distinction as he produced an assist and four shots on target in a 1-1 draw with Portland in their 1-1 tie with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Honorable Mention: Dax McCarty, New York Red Bulls; Kekutah Manneh, Vancouver
F: Kei Kamara, Columbus Crew
Kamara was the star of the lone MLS game on Sunday as he scored his league-leading 14th goal. His tally helped propel the Crew to a 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire. Kamara has been the most lethal striker in the MLS this season and he’s helped the Crew to 31 goals so far, which is the second-most in the league. He was all over the field again versus Chicago with a goal and two shots on target.
F: Sebastian Giovinco, Toronto FC
It might not have been the four-point performance he registered for Toronto last week against NYCFC but Giovinco was outstanding again. He was a crucial centerpiece in their 2-1 win over Philadelphia. We knew going in that Philadelphia had allowed the most goals in the MLS and that Giovinco was red hot, so hopefully you started him. The “Atomic Ant” fired eight shots including the eventual game-winner. His 12 goals are the second-most in the MLS this season. Honorable Mention: Dom Dwyer, Sporting Kansas City; Kevin Doyle, Colorado
