A season-high seven saves in a sensational shutout win over one of the best teams in Major League Soccer?
It should come as little surprise that Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia has been named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi after starring between the posts in a 2-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on Sunday night at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Melia delivered his best performance of the 2021 campaign in a Fourth of July showdown between Western Conference heavyweights. The 35-year-old veteran was under siege for extended periods of the match but secured his second shutout of the season with a bevy of big-time stops to thwart the Galaxy.
On the opposite end of the pitch, Sporting were opportunistic in striking twice through Johnny Russell and Khiry Shelton to emerge triumphant and ascent to the top of the Supporters' Shield table.
Sunday marked the fourth time that Melia has totaled seven saves in a regular season shutout victory, and just the fourth time an MLS goalkeeper has accomplished the feat this year.
Perhaps more impressively, Sunday was the eighth time since the dawn of the MLS Opta era in 2010 that a goalkeeper has made seven saves in a shutout road victory against an opponent with a winning record. Three of those instances have seen Melia shine as the star of the show, as he previously accomplished the feat against the Galaxy and Atlanta United FC in 2018.
Team of the Week (3-5-2, left to right): Tim Melia (SKC) – Kevin Paredes (DC), Eddie Segura (LAFC), Andy Najar (DC) – Ignacio Aliseda (CHI), Randall Leal (NSH), Alex Ring (ATX), Alvaro Medran (CHI), Tajon Buchanan (NE) – Patryk Klimala (RBNY), Cecilio Dominguez (ATX)
Melia and Sporting will enjoy a period of rest and recuperation prior to resuming their regular season campaign on July 21 when the San Jose Earthquakes visits Children’s Mercy Park at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for the game are available at SeatGeek.com, including family four-packs, as Vermes’ side begins a busy stretch of late-summer fixtures in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
