Behold, the rarist of rarities: A Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 17 that lines up in a 4-5-1!
That's not to mistake this week's team, led again by three Portland Timbers' selections after their 3-0 win over San Jose, for a defensive-minded bunch. Danny Musovski is out on the left flank to give this group some width, but he's really a forward, as his two-goal performance in LAFC's 3-1 win over Seattle showed. And midfielders Alvaro Medran and Ilsinho were creators of multiple goals from their midfield positions over the weekend.
Elsewhere, Portland's Steve Clark squeaked out the nod in a competitive race for the starting goalkeeper spot, with his most important saves coming while his match was still in reach. And New York Red Bulls rookie Caden Clark completed a rare trifecta for RBNY: First MLS start, first MLS goal, first Team of the Week start.
Team of the Week (4-5-1, right to left): Steve Clark (POR) - Jake Nerwinski (VAN), Mark McKenzie (PHI), Eriq Zavaleta (TOR), Jordan Harvey (LAFC) - Caden Clark (RBNY), Ilsinho (PHI), Lee Nguyen (NE), Alvaro Medran (CHI), Danny Musovski (LAFC) - Yaroslaw Niezgoda (POR)
Coach: Bob Bradley (LAFC)
Bench: Bobby Shuttleworth (CHI) - Walker Zimmerman (NSH), Diego Chara (POR), Johnny Russell (SKC), Lewis Morgan (MIA), Lucas Cavallini (VAN), Patrick Mullins (TOR)
The Team of the Week presented by Audi is voted on by the MLSsoccer.com editorial staff.
