MLS: Top 3 performances from Week 17

2. Justin Meram

Reigning MLS champions Atlanta United had to rely on a brilliant showing from Justin Meram to help them to three points this weekend.

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The Iraqi midfielder, who joined the Five Stripes from the Columbus Crew in May, helped to fill the gap left by Josef Martinez, Ezequiel Barco and Tito Villalba, who are all either injured or away on international duty. His first goal for the club opened the scoring at the weekend as Atlanta took the lead against the Montreal Impact. And what a stunning strike it was, shifting the ball inside the defender and curling it inside the far corner.

After Zakaria Diallo levelled the scores in the second half, it looked like the match would fizzle out into a draw, but the Iraqi stepped up once more to give the home side the victory. In the right place at the right time, Meram smashed home the loose ball from a corner after Brek Shea turned it back across the six-yard box.

The Five Stripes now sit just three points the Conference-topping Philadelphia Union and they have two games in hand on the Pennsylvania side. With Meram filling in for their absent stars, they have a chance of competing with the very best in the East.