After anchoring a strong backline display in Sunday's 2-0 shutout win over Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City center back Winston Reid was named today to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week presented by Audi.
Making his eighth start of the season, Reid went the full 90 minutes and played an integral role in silencing Real Salt Lake on a snowy and historic evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. The 2-0 result gave Sporting the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference for the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs and marked the first time Kansas City has emerged with a league win at RSL since July 2013.
Reid finished the game with five aerial duels won, four headed clearances and two interceptions, leading Sporting to their third consecutive shutout to end the 2020 regular season campaign. Sporting are 5-1-2 in Reid's eight starts this season and will now have homefield advantage in the West during the highly anticipated postseason.
Team of the Week (3-4-3, right to left): Evan Bush (MTL) - Jonathan Mensah (CLB), Jakob Glesnes (PHI), Winston Reid (SKC) - Hany Mukhtar (NSH), Jose Andres Martinez (PHI), Emanuel Reynoso (MIN), Kevin Molino (MIN) - Romell Quioto (MTL), Fredy Montero (VAN), Valentin Castellanos (NYC)
Coach: Jim Curtin (PHI)
Bench: Ryan Meara (RBNY) - Mikey Ambrose (MIA), Lewis Morgan (MIA), Jamiro Monteiro (PHI), Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA), Diego Valeri (POR), Diego Rubio (COL)
On loan from English Premier League outfit West Ham United, Reid has helped Sporting catch fire down the stretch. Manager Peter Vermes' men are 6-1-1 since the start of October, an impressive eight-game stretch that includes four clean sheets and just five goals conceded. The New Zealand international, who made his Sporting debut on Aug. 21, now has two MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week selections to his name, having previously earned the honor after scoring in a 1-0 defeat of Chicago Fire FC on Oct. 7.
With a successful regular season campaign in the books, Reid and Sporting will now prepare for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Vermes' side will host the No. 8 seed San Jose Earthquakes in the single-game conference quarterfinals on Nov. 21, 22 or 24 at Children’s Mercy Park.
Sporting KC Season Ticket Members will have exclusive access to a presale for the match starting Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT. Tickets will then go on sale to the general public beginning Thursday at noon CT.
