Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Welcome back to week three 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.
Lionel Messi was out injured, Emil Forsberg netted his first MLS goal from the spot, and the Philadelphia Union saw their game against the Seattle Sounders abandoned due to rain. Let’s dive in!
Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Giorgos Giakoumakis
Another easy choice this week. In scoring a perfect hat-trick in under 20 minutes during Atlanta United’s demolition of the New England Revolution, Giakoumakis is immediately tied for the early season Golden Boot.
Often you’ll hear people say that a striker “just needs a goal” to get going. On Saturday, Giakoumakis brought that cliché to life. Thiago Almada scored the Five Stripes’ initial penalty of the day in first-half stoppage time but when Atlanta was awarded a second penalty ten minutes into the second half, Giakoumakis stepped up. Two-and-a-half games into the season he hadn’t scored and wanted to resolve the issue sooner rather than later. He quickly did, showing that he truly only needed one to get going, tacking on a second with his head followed by another stunning strike with his weak foot. Perfect hat trick completed; Golden Boot race on.
Favian Renkel: Riqui Puig
I’m going to go with someone a little off the beaten path who is already in MVP contention. Riqui Puig had another solid outing and even added his second goal of the 2024 season. Being featured in the MLS Team of the Matchweek this week validates this choice. Puig led his LA Galaxy side to come back from a 0-2 deficit in Nashville, no easy task after flying 2,004 miles. He is one successful penalty away from putting the Galaxy at the top of the Western Conference and in Golden Boot contention. Look out for Riqui’s name to keep popping up in these as the Spaniard is set to have a phenomenal season with all the new…
Source link : https://sbisoccer.com/2024/03/giorgos-giakoumakis-riqui-puig-headline-best-of-mls-in-week-3
Author : Justin Ruderman
Publish date : 2024-03-12 13:00:00
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