Joseph Paintsil, Philadelphia Union headline the Best of MLS for Week 21

07/23/2024 10:00 AM

By Favian Renkel and Justin Ruderman

Welcome back to Week No. 21 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.

With the Leagues Cup break looming, Matchdays 27 and 28 marked the final MLS games for over a month as teams jockeyed for position ahead of the final stretch of the season. As usual, that meant records being broken, bounce back performances, and goals galore.

Here is a closer look at the action:

Player of the Week

Justin Ruderman: Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy)

The only LA Galaxy Killa P not to be selected to the MLS All-Star team enjoyed the most productive week of the trio leading up to the break in consecutive 3-2 Galaxy victories.

Setting up his fellow Killa P's, Riqui Puig and Gabriel Pec, for a goal each this week ahead of their trip to Columbus, Joseph Paintsil was the key to Galaxy's six-point week with his own pair of goals in addition to a trident of assists. On Wednesday against Colorado, Paintsil didn't misplace a single pass (21/21) as he scored and assisted the game-winning goal in LA's beautiful retro kits. Then on Saturday against Portland, Paintsil dropped a Man of the Match performance, assisting both Puig and Pec while submitting his own Goal of the Week nomination for the game-winner.

When Paintsil first signed with Galaxy, I was surprised a player of his caliber was choosing MLS. I expected him to head to the Premier League or the like. Instead, the Ghanaian saw a vision in Los Angeles of what the Killa P's could be and as we approach the home stretch of the MLS season, they have Galaxy sitting at the top of the Western Conference table.

Favian Renkel: Daniel Gazdag (Philadelphia Union)

Every time someone scores a hat trick, you can almost guarantee they will be either Justin's or my pick for Player of the Matchday. Daniel Gazdag's hat trick is no exception. Back-to-back hat tricks for the Union and back-to-back official MLLS Player of the Matchday awards — not bad if you ask me.

With the Philadelphia Union outside of the playoff line looking in, the team needed someone to step up and get them back on track to their winning ways of the past decade. This is new territory for Jim Curtin and company, but Gazdag's consistent scoring this season is nothing to scoff at. Given the Union have gotten 14 goals from their main striker, it's astonishing they are in the bottom half of the table in the Eastern Conference.

While all the headlines have been about 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan with the Philadelphia Union, Gazdag has been delivering on the field for his team.

Young Player of the Week

JR: Federico Redondo (Inter Miami CF)

Federico Redondo opened the scoring against Toronto with the assist of the week to Diego Gomez and he was off and running.

After bypassing all eleven TFC players with his long-ball assist at the end of the first half, Redondo began the second half with a thumping back-post header from a free kick followed by a late-arriving run into the box to finish off a wonderful Inter Miami team move in a 3-1 win which he played every part of.

Watch out Paris, Federico Redondo is heading into the Olympics in peak form.

FR: Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids)

Next to Diego Luna, Cole Bassett is the biggest snub from the U.S. Men's Olympic roster.

Bassett started the week by heading home a goal on the rebound of Rafael Navarro's missed penalty in Los Angeles before heading home to lead the Rapids in bringing the Rocky Mountain Cup back to Colorado on Saturday. After assisting Jonathan Lewis for the first-half equalizer, Bassett took over penalty duties from Navarro to score the winner against Real Salt Lake.

Cue the celebrations at Dick's Sporting Goods Park!

Goal of the Week

JR: Mateusz Bogusz (LAFC)

Mateusz Bogusz is back with a bang!

Bouncing back from his "slump" of two games without a goal contribution — only qualifying as a slump due to the preceding ten consecutive games recording a contribution — Bogusz earned his third Goal of the Week nomination from me this season with a stunning volley from the edge of the box in Seattle.

Every part of this goal is perfection from Bogusz. As LAFC set up their free kick, he took up an intelligent position about ten yards outside of the box, ready to clean up any loose balls, prevent a quick counterattack, or keep the pressure on Seattle if the ball popped out during the course of the play. When his preparation paid off and the Sounders' headed clearance came looping towards Bogusz, the Polish midfielder adjusted his body shape, taking note of the goalkeeper being out of position, and guided his volley through traffic by connecting flush with his laces. Many of these things could go easily unnoticed, but they're the reason Bogusz is having the breakout season of his career in Los Angeles with 13 goals and 5 assists.

Without exaggeration, Mateusz Bogusz is one of the biggest MLS All-Star snubs ever.

FR: Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls) 

In a night where the New York Red Bulls unveiled their new Mascot, "REDD", the play on the field was what actually captured the fan base's attention. Kyle Duncan's long range shot was a big part. Take a look for yourself.

The ball came to Duncan, he set his shot with a calming first touch, and buried a curler into the top corner. You can't ask for much more from a Goal of the Week. See you next time.

Team of the Week

JR: Philadelphia Union

Ten games winless, repeated choke jobs, and calls for Jim Curtin to lose his job.

That was the situation in Philadelphia heading into a week in which they desperately needed a response ahead of the Leagues Cup break. Luckily, they produced one in a big way!

Led by back-to-back hat tricks from Tai Baribo and Daniel Gazdag, the Union produced two resounding wins — 5-1 against New England and 3-0 against Nashville — to essentially rescue their season with a critical six-point week. Philadelphia entered the week at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and ended the week one point out of a playoff spot. All of a sudden, the season has meaning again.

Also, some 14-year-old kid on the Union broke the record as the youngest professional athlete to debut in any top-division North American league on Saturday. Favian will have more on that below.

FR: Inter Miami CF

I'm going to ask the question everyone is pondering: When is the Inter Miami decline coming? The Herons have won six out of seven games without the best player in the world on their roster. The most peculiar part is that five of those games were won with a scoreline of 2-1.

Tata Martino has this team firing on all cylinders, and just as Luis Suarez alluded to when he was brought to South Beach, this team is aiming for all the championships possible. As the obvious choice for the best team at the start of the season, Tata Martino has garnered support for Coach of the Year with a roster that has been demolished by injuries. 

Inter Miami now sits with a comfortable five-point lead in the Eastern Conference as they head into the Leagues Cup and they have about a month and some change before their next MLS game. 

With Lionel Messi currently in a boot, this is an ideal situation for the Argentine to heal. Inter Miami will be back to their dominant ways for the final stretch of the season with a healthy Lionel Messi. It doesn't bode well for the teams from Ohio and Los Angeles, however.

Best thing we saw this week

JR: Forty-five for Messi

Lionel Messi didn't win the Copa America this week but he did return to Miami this week, prompting a special celebration put on by his club.

With Argentina's Copa America triumph, Messi became the winningest footballer in the history of the sport by lifting his 45th major trophy across club and country. From Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain to Inter Miami and with Argentina all along, Messi has proven with yet another massive milestone that he is undoubtedly the greatest footballer to ever live. 

It's a moment to celebrate, a moment to cherish, and the best thing I saw off the field this week in MLS without a doubt.

FR: Cavan Sullivan makes his MLS debut at 14 years old

Take a moment to reflect: do you remember what you were doing at 14 years old? Freshman year of high school, trying to navigate the social hierarchy and avoid being bullied for being a freshman. Maybe you were making your way onto a JV soccer team and trying to impress the coaches. Perhaps you had a crush you were too scared to talk to. That’s the typical life of a 14-year-old.

Cavan Sullivan, however, is no ordinary 14-year-old. How about playing alongside some of the best soccer players in the country in a competitive MLS match? It sounds like something out of a high school fiction novel.

Cavan Sullivan surpassed Freddy Adu to become the youngest athlete to debut in any major sport in the United States at 14 years and 293 days old. What a night for MLS, and what a night for the Sullivan family, who also got to see their older son, Quinn Sullivan, score a stunning goal just before his younger brother took the pitch.

Once this teenager got on the field, there was not an ounce of fear in his body. With his first opportunity on the ball, he went straight for the goal and got a shot on target. I suppose that’s the kind of confidence you have when you’ve already signed a contract with English soccer powerhouse Manchester City for your 18th birthday.

Let’s all appreciate this youngster before he makes the leap across the pond and let’s hope this doesn't turn into another Freddy Adu situation where the kid is overhyped and unable to live up to the unrealistic expectations set by the American media.

With that said, this is a cool moment. No, this kid is not the next Pelé but let’s see what kind of player he turns into.