By Favian Renkel and Justin Ruderman
Welcome back to Week No. 24 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.
Even when the world rests for international breaks, we do not.
Here is a closer look at this week’s selections:
Player of the Week
Justin Ruderman: Albert Rusnák (Seattle Sounders)
3 shots. 0.3xG. 3 goals.
The first hat-trick of Albert Rusnák’s professional career earns him an easy POTW selection in a limited gameweek of six MLS matches. Incredibly, Rusnák completed that new career first in under half an hour to lead a 4-0 whalloping of Columbus Crew in Ohio.
Rusnák was majorly aided by a Crew red card (which we will discuss later along with much more from this game) but all three of his finishes were class to mark the most productive season of his career with 23 goal contributions (9 goals, 11 assists) in all competitions.
Favian Renkel: Jimmy Maurer (FC Dallas)
There’s nothing better than securing a clean sheet in your first MLS start of the season, especially on the road. Jimmy Maurer was thrown into the fire against the Vancouver Whitecaps, facing 21 shots, yet not one found the back of the net. Maurer made four saves and earned his first clean sheet since August 7, 2021.
Some things you just don’t forget how to do, even with limited playing time behind Indonesian international Maarten Paes. FC Dallas knows that when Paes is away, they can rely on Maurer’s experienced hands.
Young Player of the Week
JR: Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls)
What were you doing at 16 years old? Julian Hall is making a habit of scoring late equalizers in MLS games.
In the eight substitute appearances so far in his blossoming career, Hall has scored two goals — the first in the 88th minute and now the second this week against Sporting KC in the 89th minute — both to rescue a point for New York Red Bulls.
As a young player, when you are given an opportunity you have to take it because you don’t know when the next one will come. Hall continues to show he’s prepared for the challenge at such a young age and is another you will hear heading to Europe once he turns eighteen.
FR: Peyton Miller (New England Revolution)
Look at Justin and me, both picking 16-year-olds for our Young Player of the Week selections. When I was 16, I definitely wasn’t starting in playoff-defining matches for a top-flight professional soccer team — I was more worried about finding the courage to ask a girl to a dance.
This youngster had a remarkable start to his MLS career in just his second-ever start, though the Revolution couldn’t hold on for the win, conceding in the second half to settle for a draw. Miller, however, delivered a standout performance—completing 21 of 27 passes, registering 45 touches, going 2 for 4 on dribbles, winning 7 of 10 ground duels, and making three successful tackles.
Goal of the Week
JR: Andrew Gutman (Chicago Fire)
This is the type of goal you practice at the end of training when you are trying to show off to your teammates, but even then you miss 9 out of every 10 attempts.
Andrew Gurman tried it in a match and absolutely nailed it.
With his team down 2-0 in the second half the ball was headed out to 27-year-old from a Fire corner and he decided to have a go. Gutman popped the ball up with his chest onto his favored left foot, adjusted his body, let the ball drop, and smashed through it into the opposite side netting.
“Sensational” – Future
FR: Christian Benteke (DC United)
Someone try taking the ball from Benteke—oh wait, you can’t. Look at that touch! This goal puts the Belgian striker at 18 for the season, propelling him to the top of the MLS Golden Boot race with absolute grace and a stunning finish.
Team of the Week
JR: Seattle Sounders
Most of Seattle’s 4-0 domination at Lower.com Field on Saturday was Albert Rusnák who we already discussed but Sounders’ other star this season Jordan Morris tacked on a fourth to produce the most impressive win over Crew since the Concacaf Champions Cup final.
Some fans may see an asterisk next to the win due to the circumstances (which we will get to soon) but regardless, FC Cincinnati was the only team to win in Columbus this season until this weekend. Sounders should not be discredited.
Now up to 5th place in the Western Conference, Seattle is back at it again with the late-season run at a home playoff spot.
FR: Inter Miami CF
Only two teams won this matchday—the Sounders and D.C. United. But the real winner was Inter Miami.
Despite not playing a single minute this week, Miami is now on the verge of clinching the Supporters’ Shield after Columbus Crew’s collapse versus Seattle and the goalkeeper debacle versus MLS. With LAFC also dropping points, the Herons now sit seven points ahead of second-place LA Galaxy with a game in hand. With six games remaining, it looks like Miami is cruising, regardless of how other teams finish their seasons.
Hey, Messi should be back playing in this next game versus the Philadelphia Union!
Best thing we saw this week
JR: A new MLS goalkeeper
Sean Zawadzki has officially played every position on the field at least once in his career after strapping the gloves on Saturday for Columbus Crew after Abraham Romero got sent off in his MLS debut. And boy was there drama!
As we have discussed, the red card led to a 4-0 demolition job but that became background noise compared to the debate over why Zawadzki was forced into net.
Playing during the international break left Columbus without first-choice Patrick Schulte (USMNT) and second-choice Nicholas Hagen (Guatemala), leaving the goalkeeping to Romero, but as we can see backups are crucial. No problem, Crew can just call up a goalkeeper from Crew2, right? Well unfortunately, Columbus had already used all four call-ups for each of their reserve keeper allocated by MLS rules. Despite asking the league for an exception, Crew was denied leading to a fiery press conference from head coach Wilfried Nancy in which he did not take questions but instead spoke for about six minutes on the perceived injustice.
Nancy’s frustration is understandable as the loss likely ended Crew’s Supporters’ Shield hopes but I will let you decide whether you think MLS should have made an exception for the rescheduled match during an international break or if Crew mishandled their allocation and as the league told the club when denying their request, “rules are rules.”
FR: Rescheduled matches from earlier in the season
Weather delays and rescheduled matches will always be a challenge in MLS. On the bright side, international breaks provide an opportunity for teams to make up those games without extending the season or overloading the schedule. MLS should avoid playing during international breaks unless absolutely necessary, as was the case this matchday.