Joseph Paintsil, Philadelphia Union headline the Best of MLS for Week 21

By Favian Renkel and Justin Ruderman

Welcome back to Week No. 21 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.

With the Leagues Cup break looming, Matchdays 27 and 28 marked the final MLS games for over a month as teams jockeyed for position ahead of the final stretch of the season. As usual, that meant records being broken, bounce back performances, and goals galore.

Here is a closer look at the action:

Player of the Week

Justin Ruderman: Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy)

The only LA Galaxy Killa P not to be selected to the MLS All-Star team enjoyed the most productive week of the trio leading up to the break in consecutive 3-2 Galaxy victories.

Setting up his fellow Killa P’s, Riqui Puig and Gabriel Pec, for a goal each this week ahead of their trip to Columbus, Joseph Paintsil was the key to Galaxy’s six-point week with his own pair of goals in addition to a trident of assists. On Wednesday against Colorado, Paintsil didn’t misplace a single pass (21/21) as he scored and assisted the game-winning goal in LA’s beautiful retro kits. Then on Saturday against Portland, Paintsil dropped a Man of the Match performance, assisting both Puig and Pec while submitting his own Goal of the Week nomination for the game-winner.

When Paintsil first signed with Galaxy, I was surprised a player of his caliber was choosing MLS. I expected him to head to the Premier League or the like. Instead, the Ghanaian saw a vision in Los Angeles of what the Killa P’s could be and as we approach the home stretch of the MLS season, they have Galaxy sitting at the top of the Western Conference table.

Favian Renkel: Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union)

Every time someone scores a hat trick, you can almost guarantee they will be either Justin’s or my pick for Player of the Matchday. Daniel Gazdag’s hat trick is no exception. Back-to-back…

Source link : https://sbisoccer.com/2024/07/joseph-paintsil-philadelphia-union-headline-the-best-of-mls-for-week-21

Author : Justin Ruderman

Publish date : 2024-07-23 14:00:00

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