June 24-26 MLS Weekend Recap: MLS Weekly Awards
We’re back for the second edition of my MVP ladder. Several of the candidates scored goals plus one of the frontrunners continues to battle an injury, which altered the rankings at the top. Here we go:
MLS MVP Ladder
- F Sebastian Driussi (Austin FC): (9 goals, 4 assists, 80.2% passing, 16 key passes, 11 tackles won). It was another strong performance for Driussi over the weekend that catapults him up to the #1 position. He scored a goal in Austin’s 2-2 draw with FC Dallas on Saturday. He also completed 81.3% of his passes and drew two fouls in the match. Driussi continues to be a major reason why Austin is currently third in the West. (LW:3)
- F Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas): (9 goals, 4 assists, 74.8% passing, 17 key passes, 8 tackles won). Ferreira battled against Driussi over the weekend, but didn’t have as much success. He was unable to score or pick up an assist in the draw against Austin. He completed 77.8% of his passes in the match. Ferreira is still tied for the league lead in goals though. Dallas is currently tied for fourth in the West. (LW:2)
- MF Djordje Mihailovic (CF Montreal): (7 goals, 4 assists, 83.4% passing, 22 key passes, 13 tackles won). Mihailovic drops two spots in the rankings due to an ankle injury that has kept him out of Montreal’s return to MLS play from the International break. While he definitely could regain his spot at the top of the power rankings, he drops a few spots for now due to not playing the last two weekends. In a race as tight as this one, missing matches can go a long way. It does give you more respect for his stats though with them now being over less games. Montreal is currently third in the East. (LW:1)
- MF Carles Gil (New England Revolution): (4 goals, 8 assists, 81.8% passing, 55 key passes, 1 tackle won). This was a bit of a weird match for Gil as New England drew with Vancouver. With the match ending in a scoreless draw, Gil obviously didn’t pick up any goals or assists. He also completed less than 80% of his passes for the first time since April (albeit it was close to 80% at 79.7%). However, he did boost his key pass number substantially with six, which ties his season high (in MLS matches). The Revs currently sit sixth in the East. (LW:4)
- MF Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC): (8 goals, 5 assists, 79.8% passing, 26 key passes, 3 tackles won). Our Player of the Week runner-up in this week’s awards holds steady in the MVP race. Even though he didn’t pass Gil, he definitely closed the gap between the two and isn’t far behind. Mukhtar picked up a brace in Nashville’s 3-1 win over DC with two goals. Mukhtar also drew four fouls. Nashville is tied for fourth in the West after picking up the three points. (LW:5)
- MF Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati): (5 goals, 7 assists, 73.8% passing, 44 key passes, 19 tackles won). Acosta picked up an assist on the lone goal in Cincinnati’s 1-0 win over Orlando. He finished with one key pass, completed 76.9% of his passes, and drew a foul as well. Cincy is currently right above the playoff line in the East at seventh. (LW:6)
- F Paul Arriola (FC Dallas): (8 goals, 2 assists, 74.2% passing, 31 key passes, 13 tackles won). We have one new person on the list! Arriola was the top person left off the ladder last weekend, and his performance over the weekend was enough for me to expand the ladder to seven to include him. He scored in the 58th minute as Dallas drew with Austin. Arriola completed 73.7% of his passes, drew two fouls, and added a key pass. Dallas is currently tied for fourth in the West. (LW:NR)
Want your voice heard? Join the MLS Multiplex team!