MLS: Week 5 Team of the Week – Alejandro Pozuelo shines
Forwards
F – Krisztian Nemeth – Sporting KC
Sporting Kansas City’s offseason mirrored their previous two offseasons. Fans cried a rallying call-to-arms, ‘We need a DP striker! We need a DP striker!’ But, their petitions for a dynamic goal-scorer fell on Peter Vermes’ deaf ears. Good thing too.
As it turns out, Vermes knows what he is doing. Four games into the 2019 season, Sporting KC has the second most goals scored in MLS. The only team ahead of them, LAFC, have played one more match. Sporting are also the only MLS team remaining in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Krisztian Nemeth has thus far proven to be enough in front of goal. Following his hat-trick this week in MLS, Nemth has eight goals in seven matches across all competitions this year. His three goals on four chances make him the top center forward in MLS this week.
F – Carlos Vela – Los Angeles FC
Another week, another Team of the Week performance from Carlos Vela. Many would have picked Vela for Player of the Week honors following his hat-trick against San Jose. They would receive no argument from me. Vela scored three goals, giving him six on the season. He also had an assist. The Mexican is one of the most dynamic players in MLS. He is constantly threatening the goal. He took seven shots, made four key passes, and put in a whopping ten crosses. Vela is the early favorite to win MLS MVP.
F – Johnny Russell – Sporting Kansas City
Johnny Russell, like Nemeth, was apart of Sporting Kansas City’s 7-1 route of Montreal. Russell scored two goals on five shots. He also had an assist and a key pass. Russell just beat out teammate Gerso for this spot on the Team of the Week. Gerso supplied two assists and another two key passes.