By Favian Renkel and Justin Ruderman
Welcome back to Week 12 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.
Rivalry week is upon us as the Golden Boot race continues to heat up aided by a goalscoring bonanza across the league. No time to waste, let’s jump right in!
Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Denis Bouanga (LAFC)
Goalscorer turned provider.
Last season’s CCL and MLS Golden Boot winner scored a hat trick in every competition he played in through his first full campaign. On Saturday night, still leading the team in goals here in 2024, Bouang opted for a hat trick of assists instead.
Beginning with a pair of assists to Kike Olivera (18’ & 36’) followed by setting up Mateusz Bogusz (57’), Bouanga found the Whitecaps weakness. Continually breaking down Vancouver from his customary left wing, Bouanga’s three assists remained identical in model while increasing style points as the game progressed.
His first was a direct, immediate cross into the feet of Olivera for a tap-in. For the second assist, Bouanga added some fancy footwork to skip past Mathias Laborda before putting his cross on an equally simple and enticing platter for Olivera to tap-in. Last but not least, Bouanga hit on the counter, running with pace at the Whitecaps back line, cutting outside, and playing another pinpoint cross into the box for a tap-in – this time for Bogusz. Game over.
Favian Renkel: Christian Benteke (D.C. United)
Benteke has his head on straight.
Talk about potentially one of the best strikers MLS has ever seen—who would have thought that Benteke would become this dominant and even improve in Year 2? When D.C. United brought Benteke over last season, many thought this was an instance of Wayne Rooney bringing over a player he was familiar with and a player who would be in the twilight of their career. Fans…
Source link : https://sbisoccer.com/2024/05/denis-bouanga-dc-united-headline-the-best-of-mls-for-week-12
Author : Favian Renkel
Publish date : 2024-05-14 16:00:36
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