MLS: Top 5 performances from Week 20

There were 18 games in MLS in Week 20, including six games on the midweek slate. Here are the top five performances of the week, with one particular hat-trick of course being included.

The best performers of Week 20 in Major League Soccer were Atlanta United and New England Revolution, who both took six points, scoring at least six goals across the week. Minnesota United, meanwhile, kept their unbeaten run going with a 1-1 draw on the road at Real Salt Lake while New York City FC overcame a 10-man Colorado Rapids side at the weekend.

The biggest game of the week came in Los Angeles as El Trafico took place. After last year’s heroics, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to score twice for the Galaxy on his MLS debut, the fans were hoping for more of the same. The game was the most talked about for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the talk before the game between Ibrahimovic and his opposite number and MLS MVP-candidate, Carlos Vela; secondly, the game itself, El Trafico saw a five-goal thriller.

As well as the forwards, a couple of goalkeepers had performances to talk about with Luis Robles making four saves as the New York Red Bulls kept Orlando City at bay, while Portland’s ‘keeper Steve Clark made seven saves against the Sounders on Sunday. North of the border, Maxime Crépeau made eight saves in both of Vancouver’s games this week, but unfortunately, the Whitecaps were unable to take any points from their two clashes.

Here are our top five performers from this week’s action.

5. Gonzalo Martinez

The Five Stripes were one of several teams to play twice in MLS this week. Their first game saw them run riot against 10-man Houston Dynamo, with a comfortable 5-0 victory. In their second game of the week, Gonzalo Martinez showed why he received the award of South American Footballer of the Year for 2018.

The playmaker, who was brought in to replace the departing Miguel Almiron when he left for the Premier League, is starting to get up to speed in MLS, having had a slow start to his career in the States.

Against D.C. United, he notched a goal and an assist in the final few minutes as Atlanta took the three points in the final moments of the game. The Argentinian opened the scoring when it looked like the reigning MLS Cup Champions had run out of ideas in the 89th minute, before then setting up last year’s Golden Boot winner.

Pity then set up Josef for the insurance goal in stoppage time, completely ending D.C.’s chance of getting anything from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That is what Atlanta United broke the MLS transfer record for.