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MLS: Top performances from Week 23

By Matt Coles

ATLANTA, GA MAY 08: Atlanta United's Josef Martinez (7) looks back at the goal after his shot just missed during the MLS match between Toronto FC and Atlanta United FC on May 8th, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA MAY 08: Atlanta United's Josef Martinez (7) looks back at the goal after his shot just missed during the MLS match between Toronto FC and Atlanta United FC on May 8th, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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MLS, Atlanta United, Josef Martinez
ATLANTA, GA MAY 08: Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez (7) looks back at the goal after his shot just missed during the MLS match between Toronto FC and Atlanta United FC on May 8th, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

There were goals galore in MLS this week, with six games seeing at least four scored as the run for the playoffs starts to heat up. Here are the top five performances from Week 23.

The pick of the MLS action in Week 23 came from the Texan sides. FC Dallas won an eight-goal thriller with Minnesota United, while Houston saw eight goals scored in their two fixtures this week.

Elsewhere, runaway leaders LAFC scored four past the Red Bulls, and the Philadelphia Union maintained their grip on the Eastern with a win over the Dynamo. The Columbus-Cincinnati ended in a 2-2 draw, with both sides rooted to the bottom of the East, while a win for the Rapids took them off the bottom of the West.

Related Story. MLS: 3 former stars to watch this season in Europe. light

Here are the top five performers from the week’s action.

Colorado Rapids, LAFC, Carlos Vela
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 10: Carlos Vela #10 of Los Angeles FC during Los Angeles FC’s MLS match against Portland Timbers at the Banc of California Stadium on March 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.Los Angeles FC won the match 4-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

5. Carlos Vela

Not for the first time, the MLS MVP-favourite Carlos Vela is on our list of best performances, and here he is again. Once again, the Mexican playmaker was influential in LAFC securing another three points on their way to what could become a record season.

Vela assisted the first goal of the night, as he set up Jordan Harvey, who slotted home to give the hosts the lead against the Red Bulls. At the break, it was 2-2, after Latif Blessing had doubled the lead, before a Cristian Casseres strike and a Tyler Miller own goal levelled the scores. But then the second half was all Vela.

First, he scored on the hour mark, netting from the penalty spot to give LAFC the lead for a second time. He now has 23 on the season. He then set up the fourth with a perfectly whipped in ball into the box from a set piece, finding Eddie Segura’s head, with the Colombian more than happy to head home.

With a goal and two assists at the weekend, Vela has tied the single-season record for combined goals and assists. And there are still ten games left! The Mexican is having a season for the ages, 15 assists added to his 23 strikes, all in just 23 games. Can the single-season goals record be broken? Is Vela the shoe-in for the MLS MVP? Will LAFC continue to blow teams away in the playoffs?

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