Major League Soccer on Monday named Seattle Sounders center back Xavier Arreaga to the Week 21 MLS Team of the Week for his stellar performance in Seattle’s 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew at Lower.com field on Saturday. Additionally, Midfielder João Paulo makes the bench.
Arreaga’s late-game heroics sparked the comeback for Seattle when he tapped in a Jimmy Medranda pass that came across the goalmouth, closely passing Columbus goalkeeper Eloy Room. This 88th-minute goal marked the 26-year-old’s second goal for the Rave Green and opened the scoring for what would become a spectacular 2-1 comeback win for the Sounders. Forward Will Bruin went on to cap the night in the 89th minute with the winning goal, curling in a pin-point shot to the far corner of the net after coming on six minutes earlier.
João Paulo nearly opened the scoring in the 49th minute after his left-footed shot hit the crossbar. The Brazilian went on complete 90 minutes of action, completing 89% of his passes and finishing another commanding shift in the midfield. Following the club’s road match in Columbus, João Paulo will join five other Sounders players who are among the 28-man roster that will face the Liga MX All-Stars at Bank of California Stadium.
With the win on Saturday, Sounders FC becomes the first team in MLS history to take nine points in seven days from three away games.
The Sounders will return to MLS play on Sunday when they host the Portland Timbers (7:30 p.m. PT; ESPN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS).
