MLS Team of Week 13

Going 3-4-3 this week to accommodate a lot of players scoring their first goals of the season...

GK Bill Hamid (D.C. United): He didn't keep a clean sheet over two games this week, and DC was perhaps fortunate to scramble a late win against Philly - otherwise the two goals Hamid did concede might have combined to cost his team five points. But he can't stop everything, and 12 saves in two games is an impressive week's work.

DEF Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders): Two games, two starts, six points, just one goal conceded by his Sounders, and a somewhat surprising USMNT call-up to cap a successful week - Evans has a lot to be pleased with at the moment.

DEF Kevin Ellis (Sporting Kansas City): He had a huge game against FC Dallas, accounting for nearly of KC's clearances (15 out of 34) and contributing to exactly half his team's goals (assisting on the first and scoring the third in a 4-0 home win).

DEF Liam Ridgewell (Portland Timbers): He was brought in last season to shore up an alarmingly leaky defense. Portland's back line has been helped tremendously by the remarkable rise of right back Alvas Powell, but Ridgewell led the back line this week through two games in which the Timbers limited DC and Colorado to a combined five shots on target and just one goal.

LM Ignacio Maganto (LA Galaxy): First goal of the season was well taken, and his first (secondary) assist was also a sharp play.

CM Marco Pappa (Seattle Sounders): Scored his first goal of the season in the 1-0, mid-week win over Colorado, then scored his second in the 2-1 win over New York Red Bulls. And they weren't tap-ins. Also, the six points he helped his team win this week put Seattle at the top of the Supporters' Shield table.

CM Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC): A couple of assists in another outstanding performance from the Italian. He must be the front-runner for league MVP at this (still very early) stage of the season.

RM Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City): Zusi is a big-name attacking player in MLS, but his contribution to Sporting KC isn't always measurable in goals and assists - he's only once passed double-digits in assists in a MLS regular season, and he's never had double-digit goals in a single campaign. So it's significant when he does get his name on the scoresheet - especially when it's for his first MLS goal of the year. Notched a couple of assists too, as KC's set piece work delivered big dividends against FCD.

FWD Krisztian Nemeth (Sporting Kansas City): Absolutely ruined FC Dallas's day by scoring KC's opener, drawing the foul that saw Zach Lloyd sent off (and taking a moment to advise the referee on how to adjudicate that particular matter), and setting up Benny Feilhaber for his team's second.

FWD Gaston Fernandez (Portland Timbers): He's only started two games this season - both this week, in which he delivered his first assist of the season (on Maxi Urruti's match-winner against D.C. United) and first goal (the opener in Portland's 2-1 win in Colorado). He should get a few more starts after that contribution to a six-point week for the Timbers.

FWD Kennedy Igboananike (Chicago Fire): Has the Nigerian DP finally settled in Chicago? His first goal and assist for his new club (in his 10th appearance of this season) suggest he might be.

COACH Caleb Porter (Portland Timbers): His team seemed in danger of sliding into irrelevance for another season, but Porter's Timbers dragged themselves back into the Western Conference conversation with a two-win week.