Leandro González Pirez has been a rock in the Atlanta United back line, and he's getting the recognition from the league to show for it. The Argentine defender was named in the MLS Team of the Week by league writers this week.
Pirez put in stellar performances in two road clashes, matches where you need the defense to be strong. But it was against Philadelphia when he shined brightest, leading the team in touches and duels, while racking up an exceptional five interceptions. He capped it all off with a beautiful outside-of-the-foot pass that set Miguel Almirón loose behind the defense to earn what ended up being the match-winning penalty.
Also recognized with a spot on the bench was Josef Martinez, whose three goals this week kept him firmly in control of the Golden Boot race as top scorer in the league with 18 on the season. His hold-up play and passing also stood out, especially against Philadelphia when he earned the honor as Man of the Match.
The full MLS Team of the Week:
