Club

Team of the Week (Wk 20): Goalscorers galore honored for efforts

Donovan Ricketts, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Timbers vs. LA, 7.13.13

It would be difficult to argue that there's been any week besides Week 20 that boasts such a superb collection of goals, fitting considering the high-scoring feel of the weekend. In fact, out of the most recent slate of games only San Jose and Seattle combined for fewer than three goals, making for an average of 3.125 goals per game over eight games.


Considering that it's only natural that eight of the players honored in this week's best XI found the back of the net, including all three forwards and all four midfielders. Of course, there was also plenty of room for some good defensive performances and honrees on that end of the field, with each winning team in Week 20 conceding one goal or fewer.



Which of the weekend's goalscorers made the cut? Read on to find out...


SAVE: Ricketts leaps to deny Juninho FK

GK: Donovan Ricketts (Portland Timbers) – The Jamaican goalkeeper came up with three big stops against his former team, keeping the Timbers in the game before they got a late 2-1 decision over the LA Galaxy.


DF: Jamison Olave (New York Red Bulls) – Had a handle on Marco Di Vaio throughout New York's big win over Montreal. His athleticism, technical skills and positional sense were spot on, for the most part.


DF: Andrew Jean-Baptiste (Portland Timbers) – A huge presence on Portland's backline in their win over the Galaxy, and came up in the clutch to score the winning goal in stoppage time.


DF: Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes) – Led a sterling defensive effort by the Quakes in their 1-0 win over Seattle that saw the Sounders put just one shot target. Provided an imposing presence first on the left flank, then slid seamlessly into the middle when Jason Hernandez left the game at halftime.


GOAL: Jean-Baptiste's stoppage time winner

MF: Eric Alexander (New York Red Bulls) – Put in perhaps his best game in a Red Bulls uniform. Opened the scoring in their eventual 4-0 rout of Montreal with a superb individual effort and remained a threat throughout.


MF: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake) – The catalyst for RSL's first-ever win in Texas, an emphatic 3-0 win over FC Dallas. Opened the scoring with a lovely finish through Zach Loyd's legs, and involved himself in RSL's next two goals as well.


MF: Adam Moffat (Houston Dynamo) – Hit a pair of scorchers to lead Houston to a valuable 2-1 win in New England and showed solid box-to-box play to round off a fine outing from the Scotsman


MF: Soony Saad (Sporting Kansas City) – Got things started in Sporting's 3-0 win over Toronto with a superb effort from outside the area and added another in the second half, turning in one of the best performances of his young pro career.


GOAL: Camilo's amazing individual effort

FW: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps) – A magical performance from the Brazilian that many Canadians hope will soon suit up for their country. Scored the first two goals in Vancouver's 3-1 win over Chicago, including a magical opener.


FW: Conor Casey (Philadelphia Union) – Certainly one of the most effective players of the weekend, netting one in Philly's 3-1 win over Chivas USA and contributed on another, in addition to his strong hold-up play.


FW: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls) – Continued his mastery of the Montreal Impact, scoring once and setting up two more as he led the Red Bulls in a rout.


Coach: Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake) – Worked his magic without a number of key contributors out on international duty, throwing out a slightly different look than we are used to from Real Salt Lake with a five-man midfield, and it worked to great effect. Managed well even as his hands were tied by a forced goalkeeper substitution.


Bench:Jeff Attinella (Real Salt Lake), Sam Cronin (San Jose Earthquakes), Marcelo Sarvas (LA Galaxy), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting KC), Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire)