Major League Soccer has named Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro to its Week 30 Team of the Week bench for his impressive output against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Lodeiro also led the Sounders with 98 touches and 72 passes in their 2-0 loss at the Philadelphia Union on Sunday.
Lodeiro recorded a goal and two assists in Seattle's resounding 3-0 win over conference-leading Vancouver at CenturyLink Field. In the 62nd minute, Lodeiro blasted a one-time shot in the center of the area on a pacy, rolling pass from Joevin Jones. It was Lodeiro, though, who provided the service on Victor Rodríguez's goal in the 17th minute and Clint Dempsey's score in the 69th minute.
Lodeiro, 28, eclipsed last year's goal total with his fifth tally of the season. He is tied for the team lead with 11 assists in the 2017 MLS campaign alongside Jones and is just two assists shy of the club's single season record shared by Mauro Rosales and Obafemi Martins. Ahead of this month's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Lodeiro has been called in to play for Uruguay. "La Celeste" is set to visit Venezuela on Oct. 5 and host Bolivia on Oct. 10.
