MLS Team of the Week for Weekend of October 3-5: Vancouver Trio Star in Week 30
With all the focus on the teams near the top of the Western Conference, one team in the fight for the final playoff position out west stole the headlines in Week 30.
The Vancouver Whitecaps put in a complete performance against FC Dallas, which is why three of their players are a part of the MLS Team of the Week.
To go along with the Vancouver trio, we have a pair of Galaxy teammates as well as few influential central midfielders from the Eastern Conference.
Because of the dominance in the middle of the park on the East Coast, we opted to shape this week's team in a 4-5-1 formation.
GK: Evan Bush, Montreal
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Evan Bush kept up a high level of play in between the pipes for all 90 minutes of Montreal's 0-0 draw with Chicago.
His first major contribution came in the ninth minute, when he dove to his left to deny a shot off the head of Quincy Amarikwa.
The last of Bush's eight saves came in the 90th minute on a leaping denial of a shot from Gonzalo Segares.
The performance in net Sunday marked the second time this season in which Bush made eight saves in a game.
RB: A.J. DeLaGarza, LA
2 of 12Before Robbie Keane could unload his latest stellar goal, A.J. DeLaGarza had to deliver a perfect cross into the feet of the Republic of Ireland international.
DeLaGarza lofted his pass from the right wing into the middle of the box to connect with Keane for his 19th goal of the season.
The assist was the second in five games for the right-back, who went four whole seasons without an assist before 2014.
CB: Bobby Burling, Chivas USA
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The biggest shock of the weekend came from StubHub Center, as Chivas USA defeated Real Salt Lake, 1-0.
In the surprise victory by the Goats, Bobby Burling held strong on the back line to shut down the explosive Claret and Cobalt attack.
The center-back made 14 effective clearances, three interceptions and a blocked shot in his team's seventh win of the season.
CB: Matt Besler, Sporting Kansas City
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Just as the criticism began to grow around Matt Besler, the United States international had a strong showing in Sporting Kansas City's 0-0 draw with D.C. United.
In a battle between two of the top sides in the Eastern Conference, Besler made nine effective clearances and eight interceptions.
The performance was exactly what Besler needed in advance of the next pair of United States friendlies and the MLS Cup playoffs.
LB: Jordan Harvey, Vancouver
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In Vancouver's 2-0 win over FC Dallas, Jordan Harvey helped silence the deadly attack of the visitors.
Harvey led the Whitecaps in holding Oscar Pareja's side to two shots on target in a match that had to be won on the turf at BC Place.
The six effective clearances and five interceptions from the left-back helped keep Carl Robinson's side in fifth place in the Western Conference.
RM: Mauro Rosales, Vancouver
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Mauro Rosales had his best day in a Whitecaps uniform Saturday night with two assists in Vancouver's home victory.
The Argentinian, who was traded from Chivas USA in August, provided his first assist in the 14th minute on a cross that found Sebastian Fernandez at the far post.
Four minutes later, he stepped in front of a Moises Hernandez pass to start the buildup to the second Whitecaps goal, which was also scored by Fernandez.
CM: Dax McCarty, New York
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Dax McCarty was an absolute force in midfield during New York's 1-0 victory over Houston at Red Bull Arena.
McCarty was dynamic against the Dynamo with four shots in attack to go along with his five tackles and four interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.
The 27-year-old also helped control the pace of the game by completing 90 percent of his 51 attempted passes.
CM: Tony Tchani, Columbus
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Despite falling to New England Saturday night, Columbus was able to take positives out of the 2-1 defeat.
One of those positives was the play of Tony Tchani, who once again played a commanding role in the middle of the park.
Tchani made four key passes, including his third assist of the season on Ethan Finlay's goal, in a match that saw the Crew drop behind New York in the East playoff race by a point.
CM: Davy Arnaud, D.C.
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One of the most underrated players in the league turned in yet another terrific midfield performance for D.C. United Friday night.
Davy Arnaud was a part of a United midfield that held Sporting Kansas City to just three shots on target in the scoreless draw at RFK Stadium.
Arnaud led the Black and Red in touches (60), tackles (six) and interceptions (five) in the draw that clinched D.C.'s spot in the playoffs.
LM: Sebastian Fernandez, Vancouver
10 of 12Sebastian Fernandez scored his first goal since July 5, before completing a brace against FC Dallas.
Both of the Uruguayan's shots on goal beat Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez to keep the Whitecaps a point ahead of Portland in the race for fifth place in the West.
The performance from the 24-year-old came at the perfect time for a Vancouver side looking for a consistent attacking spark heading into the playoffs.
FW: Robbie Keane, LA
11 of 12It's becoming increasingly difficult to find new superlatives to describe the play of Robbie Keane at the moment.
The Galaxy forward scored his second consecutive brace in his side's 3-0 victory over Toronto FC Saturday night at StubHub Center.
Keane slipped in his 18th goal of the season off a Marcelo Sarvas pass in the 22nd minute before he knocked home a superb volley three minutes later.
Bench
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GK: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
CB: Steve Birnbaum (D.C.)
LB: Donny Toia (Chivas USA)
CM: Jermaine Jones (New England)
LM: Marco Pappa (Seattle)
LM: Rodney Wallace (Portland)
FW: Clint Dempsey (Seattle)
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com and WhoScored.com.
