MLS Week 18: Team of the Week

Jul 12, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Real Salt Lake midfielder John Stertzer (27) and Los Angeles Galaxy defender Tommy Meyer (21) head the ball at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Central Defense: Tommy Meyer, Los Angeles Galaxy 

Without USMNT centerback Omar Gonzalez for another week due to an ankle injury that the Galaxy defender picked up while representing his country in Brazil, young American defender Tommy Meyer answered the bell for manager Bruce Arena during the club’s 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night as the club continued to turn things around on their 2014 campaign.

Meyer along with defensive partner A.J. DeLaGarza both admirably stepped in place of Gonzalez as they have been doing so since the US international has been out of the lineup in a match where the Galaxy back line had to do plenty of work thanks to nearly 60% ball possession from RSL in the match.

Following an early goal from Gyasi Zardez it was the Galaxy that would be on the heels for most of the match from that point forward, and Meyer did more than his share of the work in the back for Los Angeles. Winning three tackles, one recovery and making plenty of crucial clearances, Meyer showed that the future is bright for the 24 year old product who has arguably earned himself some more caps once Gonzalez returns to full fitness in the coming weeks.

It will be interesting to see how Bruce Arena deals with Gonzalez making his return and who gets the majority of the caps alongside the star player inside the Galaxy back line, but expect Meyer to continue to pick up caps regardless of what happens as he has showed he is a relatively solid defender. Helping the Galaxy pick up a clean sheet on their march back up the Western Conference table, Meyer can rejoice about a spot on the MLS Multiplex Team of the Week for Week 18.