The Portland Timbers put a winning end to their grueling 12-match road stretch to start the 2019 season, and they can thank their newest star signing for those precious three points.
Argentinian forward Brian Fernandez is off to a flying start in MLS, and his first league start showed why the Timbers were so desperate to add him. Fernandez's two-goal performance helped the Timbers topple the Philadelphia Union, and helped earn the striker a place on Goal's MLS Best XI for Week 13.
SIGN UP to watch MLS in Canada this season on DAZN
The LA-based Mexican duo of Carlos Vela and Jonathan dos Santos continued to pile up the Best XI selections, each scoring goals in their team's respective victories. Vela added to his league-leading goals (15) and assists (9) totals while Dos Santos helped the Galaxy overcome the absence of suspended striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to snap their four-match losing slide.
Here is Goal's MLS Best XI for Week 13:
Goalkeeper
It was a busy week for New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles , who made a combined nine saves to help his team earn four points from two matches despite the absence of star center back Aaron Long. Robles made several acrobatic stops against Vancouver last Wednesday, then denied FC Cincinnati with four stunning stops to post a shutout.
If Save of the Week was still a thing, we'd be hard-pressed to pick our favorite. #RBNY pic.twitter.com/h0QCyleG9u
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) May 28, 2019
LA Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham would have been the easy Best XI selection most weeks, but earns honorable mention this week after saving a penalty and recording six saves in the Galaxy's 1-0 win against Orlando City.
Defenders
Minnesota United has found a gem in Romain Metanire , with the dynamic right back providing attacking contributions along with solid defending. His well-rounded game was on full display against Houston, as he delivered the winning goal and shut down the left side of the Dynamo attack in Saturday's 1-0 win.
Métanire Force One pic.twitter.com/4OKNN946LW
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) May 26, 2019
Colorado central defender Tommy Smith has had a rough season but much like the Rapids, he has begun turning it around. Smith delivered his best match of the season in Saturday's 3-2 win over Columbus, scoring a goal and providing steady defense.
Tommy Smith rises up and heads it home! #Rapids96 lead 1-0. #COLvCLB pic.twitter.com/Q5vmYVbJiZ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 26, 2019
Vancouver's Ali Adnan has made an immediate impact for the Whitecaps since his arrival, and the Iraqi left back flashed his considerable qualities this week during a four-point week for Vancouver. That included a wonder goal in Saturday's win against FC Dallas.
Ali Adnan did 'em dirty last night. 💯 pic.twitter.com/Zcql2J7RYV
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 26, 2019
Honorable mention among defenders goes to the LA Galaxy's Giancarlo Gonzalez , New York Red Bulls' Kemar Lawrence , LAFC's Tristan Blackmon , Seattle's Kelvin Leerdam and Portland's Jorge Villafana .
Midfielders
It isn't a Best XI without a Carlos Vela appearance, and the LAFC star continued his domination of the MLS MVP race with another standout performance, delivering a goal and two assists in Saturday's 4-2 win versus Montreal.
⬆️⬆️⬇️⬇️⬅️➡️⬅️➡️🅱️🅰️
🎮 MVP Mode Unlocked 🎮
15 goals, 15 games for @11carlosV . #LAFCvMTL 2-0 pic.twitter.com/MMR81bidqm
— LAFC (@LAFC) May 25, 2019
Real Salt Lake's Sebastian Saucedo continues to turn it on, earning his second consecutive Best XI selection after scoring a beauty in RSL's 2-1 win against Atlanta United.
An absolute sniper! pic.twitter.com/JxFiKKTdVu
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 25, 2019
LA Galaxy standout Jonathan dos Santos was back to his all-star ways on Saturday, dominating play in midfield while also contributing a long-distance game-winner to help his team halt its recent slide.
GOLAZOOOOOOOOOO❗️ @jona2santos , take a bow. 🔥🔝 pic.twitter.com/6tEasBLVzM
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) May 24, 2019
San Jose's Cristian Espinoza earned his latest Best XI nod for his two-assist effort in San Jose's big road win against Toronto FC.
We're gonna need a new hashtag.
Wondo scores #149 #TORvSJ pic.twitter.com/fKhbFkBHec
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) May 27, 2019
There were several quality midfield performances in Week 13, with Honorable Mention nods going to RSL's Jefferson Savarino , Portland's Diego Chara and Diego Valeri , LAFC's Eduard Atuesta and New York Red Bulls' Kaku .
Forwards
Sporting Kansas City's Johnny Russell had the best individual performance of the week, torching Seattle's defense for a hat trick, including this amazing dribble and finish in his team's 3-2 victory on Sunday.
"HOW ON EARTH HAS HE JUST DONE THAT? Same, @JohnStrong .
VOTE: Johnny's second goal up for @MLS Goal of the Week 💪
» https://t.co/GLbnMcJ6ml pic.twitter.com/ZuaeQnNqbE
— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) May 27, 2019
San Jose's Chris Wondolowski made it two Best XI selections in a row by following up his four-goal masterpiece with an outstanding two-goal outing in San Jose's win at Toronto FC.
You aren't dreaming.
This really is #Wondo150 #VamosSJ | #TORvSJ pic.twitter.com/A5RVLK6mMu
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) May 27, 2019
Portland's Brian Fernandez has taken no time to adapt to MLS, scoring in his debut a week ago and then firing home two goals in his first start, an impressive 3-1 road win against the Philadelphia Union.
Total team goal. Absolute work of art.🎨 #PHIvPOR | #RCTID pic.twitter.com/O17BOJ5zQW
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) May 26, 2019
LAFC's Christian Ramirez , NYCFC's Alexandru Mitrita and Colorado's Kei Kamara all earned Honorable Mention nods this week.
