Evander, Portland Timbers headline the Best of MLS for Week 26

09/24/2024 05:40 AM

By Favian Renkel and Justin Ruderman

Welcome back to Week 26 of Justin and Favian's Weekly MLS Awards where SBI staff writers Justin Ruderman and Favian Renkel bring you a glimpse at the best of each week in MLS. 

Double the Matchday equals double the fun, especially this late in the season.

Here is a closer look at the action:

Player of the Week

Justin Ruderman: Evander (Portland Timbers)

We have a new MLS MVP favorite!

Despite Portland Timbers continuing to fight for a playoff spot, their star playmaker has become the top goal contributor in MLS with three goals and an assist to push his season totals to 15 goals and 18 assists. In turn, his head coach Phil Neville called him the best No. 10 in MLS as he became the first Timber in club history to record a goal contribution in 11 consecutive MLS games.

Spoiler: Evander also scored my goal of the week so this was an easy choice.

Favian Renkel: Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union)

When discussing MLS MVP dark horses, Daniel Gazdag might be a long shot, but with three goals in his last two games, he's now just two goals shy of leader Christian Benteke, who has 19. Gazdag, one of the most lethal players in MLS, could quickly leapfrog the competition in the Golden Boot race. This Philadelphia Union offense is brimming with young talent, and a clinical finisher like Gazdag can capitalize, as he has in the last two matchdays, to make a strong push in the final four games of the season.

Young Player of the Week

JR: Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake)

Diego Luna may have only been a substitute for his first game this week but in Saturday's game in Portland, Luna was the best player on the pitch (including Evander). In addition to his goal, Luna created a match-high five chances while making nine recoveries on the defensive end.

After placing tenth last season, it will be interesting to see how high Luna will find himself on the 22 under 22 list this season for which voting is taking place this week.

FR: Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)

Three assists in two games for 20-year-old Quinn Sullivan—while many expected the spotlight to be on Cavan, it's Quinn who's been quietly having a standout season. With 10 assists, three goals, and over 2,000 minutes across more than 30 appearances, the Union have yet another young talent on their hands.

Remember the Sullivan name, these boys will be special in MLS and beyond. 

Goal of the Week

JR: Evander (Portland Timbers)

This should be one of the most difficult picks of the season in our "League of Bangers", as I like to call it, with a host of incredible goals but, for me, Evander is the clear winner.

With his team down 2-1 in Urah, Evander left Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Gavin Beavers rooted to his spot as he smashed his free-kick off the underside of the crossbar for the equalizing goal.

Scoring goals like this while leading MLS in goal contributions makes it difficult to argue against an Evander MVP case.

FR: Miranchuk (Atlanta United)

The goal marked the beginning of Inter Miami CF’s downfall. It was a stunning strike that completely deflated the Herons’ hopes of surpassing the New England Revolution’s single-season point total. Since then, Miami has dropped four crucial points in their pursuit of greatness.

The new superstar for the Five Stripes is already playing spoiler for one of their Eastern Conference rivals.

Team of the Week

JR: Portland Timbers

Normally, in a double gameweek a team must win both games to be considered for team of the week. Timbers did not do that, but it felt as if they did.

Timbers started the week at home, smashing LA Galaxy 4-2 with goals from each of their top scorers Evander, Jonathan "Cabecita" Rodríguez, and Felipe Mora (becoming the first team in MLS history with a trio of 14+ goalscorers) before heading to Utah for another thrilling 3-3 draw with RSL. As the highest-scoring team in the West (63 goals) while conceding the most goals of any team currently in a West playoff position (53 goals), every Timbers game brings the goals.

More to the point, Galaxy and RSl are currently the top two teams in the West so taking four points from six this week is the hallmark of a true competitor. As a result, Timbers solidified their 8th-place position in the West, seven points clear of FC Dallas in 10th, while turning their attention up the table to a non-wildcard playoff berth.

FR: Philadelphia Union

The Union has scored nine goals in their last two matches and now sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. With a game in hand over Toronto FC, Philadelphia controls its own destiny in the playoff race. A Jim Curtin-coached team is always a playoff contender, and this year is no exception, even with some new faces alongside the familiar ones.

Next up, Philadelphia faces Atlanta United, a club battling for the same play-in spot. The road ahead doesn't get any easier, with upcoming matches against the in-form Orlando City, the Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati.

After losing the CONCACAF Champions Berth to the Colorado Rapids in the third-place game in Leagues Cup and selling off some of the fan favorites, the Union will be looking forward to some brighter days with the club fighting in the MLS Cup Playoffs.  

Best thing we saw this week

JR: The schedule

MLS needs to schedule every weekend like they did on Saturday.

Playing two standalone matches at 2 pm ET and 4 pm ET ahead of the first full slate of games at 7:30 pm ET is an ideal schedule to provide games all day for the MLS sickos, allow Europeans to watch Messi and co. before they go to bed, and make it easier to follow the entire league rather than just the team you support. Including a Sunday game, as is often done, is also beneficial and I would advocate for two.

Regardless, do not ask me why it took MLS until college football season to try this schedule on for size, nor why we will not see it again the rest of the season. Hopefully in 2025!

FR: Lionel Messi is healthy and traveling again

Lionel Messi is back, healthy, and traveling with Inter Miami, giving fans exactly what they crave: minutes on the pitch, anywhere but Chase Stadium. This week, Messi brought the excitement to Atlanta United on Wednesday and continued the Messi mania in New York City last Saturday, thrilling opposing fans. Every time Messi travels and plays, it's a spectacle and must-watch TV—even Justin mentioned how MLS adjusted some of their time slots to accommodate the buzz.

Messi's presence generates unparalleled excitement, and for good reason. Arrowhead Stadium drew a massive crowd of 72,610, the 4th largest in MLS history. Gillette Stadium set a new attendance record for the New England Revolution with 65,612 fans, while BC Place broke its all-time record with 51,035 for Vancouver Whitecaps. Yankee Stadium saw 44,738 fans, the second-largest crowd in NYCFC history, and Stade Saputo sold out with 19,619—all for matches featuring Lionel Messi.