The resurgence of the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City over the weekend have also become main themes in the latest edition of the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 13.
Sporting midfielders Graham Zusi and Luke Sassano, who have recently received more playing time in place of other Gold Cup absentees, did well enough in their two matches to earn a nod. Meanwhile, the Chicago Fire were also recognized for collecting four points from two road games with defender Yamith Cuesta and manager Frank Klopas joining the list of the week's best.
The forward line this week has a distinct French flavor with both New York's Thierry Henry and Vancouver's Eric Hassli living up to their Designated Player titles.
GK: Greg Sutton (New York Red Bulls) – He not only stopped Shalrie Joseph’s PK for New England, but he also made several spectacular saves. Could Canada have used him at the Gold Cup?
DF: Julius James (Columbus Crew) – May have been burned on Orr Barouch's play on the Fire's goal, but James was effective in clearing countless balls throughout the match.
DF: Drew Moor (Colorado Rapids) – Scored the game-winning goal for a win at JELD-WEN Field that placed an exclamation mark on another impact performance at center back.
DF: Yamith Cuesta (Chicago Fire) – The Fire have placed their faith in the Colombian central defender and he’s repaying them as a starter. One of the key figures in the Fire’s two shutouts last week.
MF: Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders) – The Argentine was all over the field against Vancouver, making plays on the ball and moving it around quickly. He brings back memories of the Crew’s Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
MF: Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) – Pizza Hut Park was the scene for Zusi’s official coming-out party. He scored two goals, got a helper and showed he has the tools to become a permanent fixture in the Sporting midfield.
MF: Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo) – Another three-assist game for the "left-footed David Beckham," even though only two counted. One Dynamo goal was called back because of a teammate’s foul on the play.
MF: Luke Sassano (Sporting Kansas City) – Missing Stéphane Auvray and Craig Rocastle has allowed Sporting manager Peter Vermes to discover another strong midfield option. Performed exceptionally in both SKC matches last week.
FW: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls) – The Frenchman had a hand in both NY goals vs. the Revs, including scoring the game-winner, and he created numerous opportunities for his teammates throughout the match.
FW: Eric Hassli (Vancouver Whitecaps) – Held the ball up effectively, got the midfielders into the attack and scored two goals. Not a bad match for the player who many are already crowning as the new Goal of the Year winner.
FW: Steven Lenhart (San Jose Earthquakes) – With Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski and Ryan Johnson away on Gold Cup duty, Lenhart did it all on his own against D.C. United last Saturday, showing bravery and good soccer instincts on his three goals at RFK Stadium.
Manager: Frank Klopas (Chicago Fire) – Two away games and more importantly, four points and two shutouts, including in another team's stadium opener. Good start for the newly minted head coach and his club's playoff hopes are now revived.
Honorable Mention: Orr Barouch (Chicago Fire), Danleigh Borman (Toronto FC), Bobby Boswell (Houston Dynamo), Blake Brettschneider (D.C. United), Alan Gordon (Toronto FC), Sébastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union), Marcos Mondaini (Chivas USA), Patrick Nyarko (Chicago Fire), Scott Palguta (Colorado Rapids), Brad Ring (San Jose Earthquakes), Gonzalo Segares (Chicago Fire), Khari Stephenson (San Jose Earthquakes).
2011 TEAM OF THE WEEK MENTIONS (alphabetical order):
Goalkeepers: Stefan Frei (Week 7), Tally Hall (Week 2, Week 3), Kevin Hartman (Week 8, Week 9), Kasey Keller (Week 4), Dan Kennedy (Week 5),Troy Perkins (Week 12), Matt Pickens (Week 10), Donovan Ricketts (Week 6), Nick Rimando (Week 1), Greg Sutton (Week 11, Week 13);
Defenders: Corey Ashe (Week 7), Nat Borchers (Week 12), Danleigh Borman (Week 4), Bobby Boswell (Week 4), Danny Califf (Week 1), Geoff Cameron (Week 12), Yamith Cuesta (Week 13), Mamadou "Futty" Danso (Week 9), Michael Farfan (Week 10), Sean Franklin (Week 11), Omar Gonzalez (Week 3, Week 5), Andre Hainault (Week 9), Jason Hernandez (Week 12), Ugo Ihemelu (Week 8, Week 11), Dejan Jakovic (Week 11), Julius James (Week 13), George John (Week 9), Perry Kitchen (Week 12), Zach Loyd (Week 1), Chad Marshall (Week 2, Week 3, Week 4), Josip Mikulic (Week 6), Drew Moor (Week 2, Week 8, Week 13), Jeff Parke (Week 1, Week 10), Heath Pearce (Week 6, Week 8), Tim Ream (Week 8), Alain Rochat (Week 2), A.J. Soares (Week 3), Jan Gunnar Solli (Week 6), Carlos Valdés (Week 7), Rodney Wallace (Week 5), Ethan White (Week 5), Sheanon Williams (Week 7), Marvell Wynne (Week 10);
Midfielders:Kalif Alhassan (Week 5), Osvaldo Alonso (Week 2), Kyle Beckerman (Week 1), David Beckham (Week 8), Geoff Cameron (Week 3), Servando Carrasco (Week 8), Brian Carroll (Week 2), Davide Chiumiento (Week 1), Keon Daniel (Week 7), Brad Davis (Week 4, Week 5, Week 7, Week 11, Week 13), Simon Dawkins (Week 3), Dwayne De Rosario (Week 7), Brad Evans (Week 7), Julian de Guzman (Week 6), Landon Donovan (Week 6, Week 9), Dilly Duka (Week 5), Benny Feilhaber (Week 6), Álvaro Fernández (Week 9), David Ferreira (Week 4), Ned Grabavoy (Week 12), Daniel Hernandez (Week 10), Ryan Johnson (Week 9), Shalrie Joseph (Week 3), Juninho (Week 1, Week 8), Nizar Khalfan (Week 4), Nick LaBrocca (Week 6, Week 9), Joel Lindpere (Week 10, Week 11), Justin Mapp (Week 11), Javier Morales (Week 2), Dominic Oduro (Week 10), Daniel Paladini (Week 12), Marco Pappa (Week 2), Chris Pontius (Week 5), Brad Ring (Week 12), Mauro Rosales (Week 13), Luke Sassano (Week 13), Brek Shea (Week 11), Teemu Tainio (Week 1), Mikael Yourassowsky (Week 10), Steve Zakuani (Week 3, Week 4), Graham Zusi (Week 13);
Forwards: Jean Alexandre (Week 12), Justin Braun (Week 9), Omar Bravo (Week 1), Will Bruin (Week 4, Week 7), Teal Bunbury (Week 3), Fabián Castillo (Week 9), Diego Cháves (Week 6), Marvin Chávez (Week 10, Week 12), Omar Cummings (Week 1), Charlie Davies (Week 8), Caleb Folan (Week 3), Eric Hassli (Week 1, Week 13), Tom Heinemann (Week 10), Thierry Henry (Week 5, Week 6, Week 8, Week 13), Kei Kamara (Week 6), Steven Lenhart (Week 10, Week 13), Javier Martina (Week 2), Andrés Mendoza (Week 11), Marcos Mondaini (Week 12), Alejandro Moreno (Week 7), Paulo Jr. (Week 2), Jorge Perlaza (Week 5), Joao Plata (Week 8), Emilio Rentería (Week 7), Luke Rodgers (Week 5, Week 11), Mauro Rosales (Week 4), Camilo (Week 3), Cam Weaver (Week 11), O'Brian White (Week 4), Chris Wondolowski (Week 2, Week 9);
Managers:Hans Backe (Week 2), Robin Fraser (Week 6, Week 9), Dominic Kinnear (Week 7), Frank Klopas (Week 13), Jason Kreis (Week 4), Peter Nowak (Week 11), Ben Olsen (Week 1), Gary Smith (Week 3, Week 8), Robert Warzycha (Week 5), Aron Winter (Week 10), Frank Yallop (Week 12).
