After powering red-hot Minnesota United to a perfect six-point week, a team record five Loons have earned MLS Team of the Week Honors: Forwards Darwin Quintero and Christian Ramirez, goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, defender Brent Kallman, midfielder Miguel Ibarra and Head Coach Adrian Heath.
Quintero garnered his third-straight Team of the Week selection and fourth of the season by continuing his recent torrid pace. The Colombian Designated Player scored two goals and assisted on two more in Minnesota’s wins over New England Revolution and LAFC, including the eventual game-winner in the 2-1 triumph over the Revolution.
It is the third career honor for both Ibarra and Ramirez and the second for Ibarra this season. Minnesota United’s dynamic duo combined for four goals and two assists last week, led by Ramirez’s back-to-back standout efforts. The forward broke out with three goals and an assist in two matches to pace the Loons’ attack.
Shuttleworth shone between the sticks to earn his fourth accolade of the campaign and seventh since coming to Minnesota last season. The goalkeeper turned away 12 shots in the Loons’ two games last week, including four in the second half of the New England match to preserve the one-goal win. No save loomed larger, though, than his 80th minute stop on midfielder Scott Caldwell, which saved three points for MNUFC.
Despite heavy pressure in the second half against the Revolution and the first half against Los Angeles, Minnesota conceded only twice in 180 minutes. Anchoring that stout effort was Kallman, who has found a home at the center of the Loons’ three-man back line and now has his second career Team of the Week selection, and first of the season, to show for it.
Led by Heath, MNUFC wrapped up its home stand last week with a franchise-best three-game winning streak and has won its last four at home to put itself firmly in the playoff mix in the Western Conference.
See the full MLS Team of the Week for Week 20 below:
F: Quintero (MIN), Martinez (ATL), Ramirez (MIN)
M: Piatti (MTL), Osorio (TOR), Trapp (CLB), Lodeiro (SEA)
D: Ciani (LA), Kim (SEA), Fanni (MTL)
GK: Shuttleworth (MIN)
Bench: Willis (HOU), Kallman (MIN), Parker (RBNY), C. Roldan (SEA), Davis (RBNY), Ibarra (MIN), Alessandrini (LA)
Coach: Adrian Heath (MIN)
