The MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week includes two players who starred in Sporting Kansas City’s 6-0 demolition of Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Friday night at Children’s Mercy Park.
Fellow newcomers Johnny Russell and Yohan Croizet were selected among the best performers in Week 8 on Monday, adding gloss to a historic result that set or equaled multiple club records.
Russell is a bona fide MLS Player of the Week candidate, having bagged a hat-trick and earned a penalty as the scintillating star of Friday’s show. The 28-year-old, who is tied for second in MLS with five goals, became the seventh player in club history to record a hat-trick in the regular season.
Croizet, meanwhile, tallied his first goal and assist in a Sporting KC uniform, setting up Cristian Lobato with a brilliant cross before slotting home in the 77th minute to give the rampant hosts their final goal of the night.
The 26-year-old Croizet is the third Sporting KC player this season to deliver the Audi Player Index Performance of the Week, following in the footsteps of midfielder Felipe Gutierrez (Week 4) and goalkeeper Tim Melia (Week 6). The Frenchman put four of his seven shots on target, completed 48 of 56 passes in the attacking half and won 100 percent of his take-ons.
Lastly, Sporting KC left back Jimmy Medranda landed a spot on the Team of the Week bench. The diminutive defender scored a jaw-dropping wondergoal in the 30th minute and completed an astounding 105 of 107 pass attempts. Fans can vote Medranda for AT&T MLS Goal of the Week through Wednesday at 2 p.m. CT.
Friday’s victory saw Sporting KC achieve single-game record-highs in goals, margin of victory, shots (34), shots on target (14) and possession (79.6 percent).
Unbeaten in seven matches and five points clear atop the Western Conference standings, Sporting KC will now begin preparations for Saturday’s road test against the New England Revolution. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City Plus, FOX Sports Midwest Plus, FOX Sports GO, Sports Radio 810 WHB and ESPN Deportes KC 1480 AM.
All supporters are invited to attend the official watch party for Saturday's match at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District (1370 Grand Blvd.). Watch party programming includes Sporting KC ticket giveaways, $4 Bud Light drafts and an all-you-can-eat buffet with bottomless soda and domestic draft beers.
