After just 10 games, Kendall Waston is already a Vancouver Whitecaps legend.
Waston's goal in the 70th minute agianst the Colorado Rapids on Saturday catapulted the 'Caps into the MLS Cup playoffs for the second time in their history. On the defensive end Waston was a dominant force accruing a remarkable 13 interceptions, earning him a nod on the final installment of the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week of the season.
Bradley Wright-Phillips, meanwhile, is also on the team after he scored two goals to lead the New York Red Bulls past Sporting Kansas City and tie Chris Wondolowski and Roy Lassiter for most goals in a single season with 27.
Who else earned a spot on the latest Team of the Week? Read on to find out.
GK: Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire) While his Chicago teammates were struggling to tread water early vs. Houston, Johnson made several key saves which ultimately paid off when the Fire grabbed a late victory.
D: Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers) – Excellent showing at right back, completely shutting down Dallas danger men Fabian Castillo and Andres Escobar to help Portland keep their playoff hopes alive.
D: Jose Goncalves (New England Revolution) – Showed again why he won DOTY last season, serving as the rock along the Revs backline as they beat Toronto 1-0.
D: Kendall Waston (Vancouver Whitecaps) – Another busy but ruthlessly effective night at the back for the Costa Rican, who also grabbed the goal that sent Vancouver to the playoffs.
D: Waylon Francis (Columbus Crew) – His attacking verve is what sets him apart from most left backs in MLS, and he showed that again as the Crew won 2-1.
M: Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers) – Finally scored his first goal of the season and was consistently dangerous against Dallas as the Timbers won 2-0.
M: Matias Laba (Vancouver Whitecaps) – A mauler in the center of the park, Laba dominated the midfield as the 'Caps clinched their playoff spot.
M: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) – Scored the insurance goal against Chivas USA to help RSL capture the No. 3 seed in a 2-0 win on Wednesday.
M: Marco Pappa (Seattle Sounders) – Came on as a sub and was a nightmare for the LA Galaxy for the second game in a row. His two goals ensured the Sounders won the Supporters' Shield.
F: Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls) – Moved into the history books, netting a brace to tie Roy Lassiter and Chris Wondolowski for the single season scoring mark at 27 goals as the Red Bulls beat SKC 2-0.
F: Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact) – Said goodbye to the Montreal faithful with a goal against D.C. United.
Coach: Caleb Porter (Portland Timbers) – Had his team ready for their matchup against FC Dallas, securing the much needed win, but didn't get any help from the Rapids.
Bench:David Ousted (Vancouver Whitecaps), Richard Eckersley (New York Red Bulls), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders), Nigel Reo-Coker (Chivas USA), Tony Tchani (Columbus Crew), Joao Plata (Real Salt Lake), Florent Sinama-Pongolle (Chicago Fire)
