After showing himself as one of the key contributors to MNUFC's season-opening road victory over an offensively-potent FC Dallas squad, Minnesota United midfielder Kervin Arriaga has earned a spot on the MLS Team of the Matchday for Week 1 of the MLS season.

While goals may grab the glory, Arriaga's defensive prowess and ability to cover ground didn’t go unnoticed, as Coach Adrian Heath sang the young Honduran's praises in the postgame presser. "I thought Kervin [Arriaga] was at his best tonight. Last year, he started the season the first eight or nine games, he was outstanding. And then he had a high ankle sprain. And he never really got himself going but tonight was like the proper curve, covering loads of loads of ground, getting in good spots. Obviously he's back. I thought he was composed and used the ball very, very well. He has the ability to be one of the better players in the league for sure." 

While injuries may have been an obstacle for Arriaga to overcome in 2022, his start to this new season is definitely something to take note of. Especially while they await the potential return of Emanuel Reynoso to the squad, Arriaga's talent and versatility on the pitch will be a catalyst if the Loons want to continue to find early season success.

Congrats to our boy, Kervin!

See the full MLS Team of the Matchday for Week 1 below:

F: Jordan Morris (SEA), Julián Carranza (PHI), Ted Ku-DiPietro (DC)

M:  Dániel Gazdag (PHI), Obinna Nwobodo (CIN), Eduard Löwen (STL)  Thiago Almada (ATL) 

D: Sergii Kryvtsov (MIA), Walker Zimmerman (NSH), Henry Kessler (NE)

GK: Drake Callender (MIA)

Coach: Bradley Carnell (STL)

Bench: Pedro Gallese (ORL), Nouhou (SEA), Juan Mosquera (POR), Noel Buck (NE), Kervin Arriaga (MIN), Damir Kreilach (RSL), Cristian Roldan (SEA), Jacob Shaffelburg (NSH), João Klauss (STL)