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SBI MLS Best XI: Week 18

AduFarfan (Getty Images)

Week 18 in MLS was marked by some virtuoso attacking performances, and that much is reflected on SBI's Best XI.

Hat-trick hero Alvaro Saborio and two-goal scorer Robbie Keane did the heavy lifting in weekend wins for Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy, respectively, while the Philadelphia Union continue their ascent from the bottom of the Eastern Conference and were carried to a pair of wins by Freddy Adu and Michael Farfan. Not to be overlooked were the roles played by New England Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen and Seattle Sounders playmaker Mauro Rosales, who were both integral to their teams' respective victories over the weekend.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Houston Dynamo netted a pair of 0-0 draws and are represented by goalkeeper Tally Hall and defender Jermaine Taylor, whose role figures to increase with the seemingly imminent departure of Geoff Cameron.

Here is SBI's MLS Best XI for Week 18:

SBI MLS Best XI: Week 18

—————Alvaro Saborio——–Robbie Keane————

–Freddy Adu———Mauro Rosales——–Michael Farfan–

————————-Patrice Bernier————————–

Chris Wingert–Jermaine Taylor—-Hernan Pertuz—-Kevin Alston—–

———————————Tally Hall————————————-

HONORABLE MENTION: Joe Cannon, Sheanon Williams, Jamison Olave, Gabriel Farfan, Sean Franklin, Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Alvaro Fernandez, Lee Nguyen, Justin Mapp, Eddie Johnson

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What do you think of this week's selections? Are there any players that you thought merited Best XI recognition that were left off our list?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I really don’t think Freddy deserves to be on this list, aside from a goal and a couple decent runs at the defense he’s been a non-factor this week (just like every week). I wouldn’t even put him among the top 5-6 Union players this past week.

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  2. Not a big mistake. They should move BOTH Fernandez and Montero, they are just not getting it done as DPs. One isn’t good enough and the other is someone the team can’t win with.

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  3. Not sure Keane should be on the list. Although he scored two goals in their last match, he didn’t play that well overall.

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  4. Morales: Nice selection for honorable mention. He had no stats this week but was magical. When healthy, he is the best CAM or #10 in MLS and he is starting to get back to form. He absolutely dominated Portland in one of the best performances I have seen by a player this year.

    Morales consistently got double and triple teamed. Hack-a-Javi was in full effect as he drew at least 5 yellow cards for bad challenges. His vision, passing and creative ability absolutely opened up the game for RSL. MLS be warned, Morales is back healthy and RSL will be very dangerous again going forward.

    On a side note, I know I am a homer for RSL, but am I the only one that thinks it is strange that the side that has been number 1 in the Power Rankings for the majority of the first half does not have a single MLS starting XI player in the All-Star game? How do Beckerman, Olave, Borchers, Rimando, Saborio and Espindola all get shutout? At least one of those guys has to make it.

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  5. Michael Farfan is turning into a legit USMNT prospect. He has guile, vision and creativity. If he can continue to play at the current level under Hack for the rest of the season, I’d like to see Klinsmann bring him in during the winter training period.

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  6. Eddie Johnson should be on there in place of Keane. Eddie Johnson is boldly demonstrating why Fredy Montero is obsolete. Rumors are that Seattle will move a DP and it will probably be Flaco. Big mistake. Why not move the guy nobody can play with?

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