Swope Park Rangers rookies Amer Didic and Mark Anthony Gonzalez have been named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 26 after their standout performances in the 3-0 win over OKC Energy FC at Taft Stadium on Sunday that clinched a playoff berth for the Rangers.
Didic, 21, earns his fifth Team of the Week recognition – leading all rookies and all defenders in the USL – after helping SPR post their second consecutive shutout and sixth overall in 2016. Didic has made 26 appearances for the Rangers this year, starting in every shutout the Rangers have posted, and has formed a defensive partnership with Oumar Ballo that has seen SPR go 8-0-2 when the two start together.
The Edmonton, Alberta native has also played every minute in Sporting Kansas City’s Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League campaign.
Gonzalez, 22, is named to the Team of the Week for the second time this season – having also been included in Week 12 after scoring twice against Rio Grande Valley FC on June 8. Gonzalez notched the game-winning assist on Dane Kelly’s goal in Sunday’s contest before adding his team-leading ninth goal of the season in the 24th minute – all while playing in an unfamiliar attacking midfield role.
Didic, Gonzalez and the Swope Park Rangers are back in action tomorrow night when they take on Tulsa Roughnecks FC at ONEOK Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. with a live stream available on SportingKC.com.
USL Team of the Week (Courtesy of USLSoccer.com)
GK – Clement Diop, LA Galaxy II: Diop recorded an eight-save shutout to lead Los Dos to a 1-0 win against Rio Grande Valley FC that clinched a place in the playoffs.
D – Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers: Didic led a strong defensive display for SPR as they earned a 3-0 victory on the road against OKC Energy FC on Sunday.
D – Harrison Delbridge, FC Cincinnati: Delbridge played the full game in both of FCC’s shutouts last week as the side clinched the No. 3 seed in Eastern Conference.
D – Vasilis Apostolopoulos, Rochester Rhinos: Apostolopoulos was solid at the back as the Rhinos took a 1-0 win on the road against the Charlotte Independence.
M – Luke Rooney, Arizona United SC: Rooney had a goal and assist as Arizona rallied to defeat Real Monarchs SLC 3-2 on Saturday night.
M – Charlie Adams, Real Monarchs SLC: Adams scored the game-winner, and also added an assist, as the Monarchs defeated San Antonio FC 2-0 last Wednesday.
M – Maikel Chang, Charleston Battery: Chang scored the game-winner as the Battery took a 2-1 comeback victory on the road against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday.
M – Magnus Rasmussen, Louisville City FC: Rasmussen earned a second consecutive selection as his two goals helped lead City to a 5-1 win against Saint Louis.
F – Brandon Allen, New York Red Bulls II: Allen scored a goal and added two assists as the Red Bulls II took a 4-0 win against FC Montreal on Saturday night.
F – Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Swope Park Rangers: Gonzalez had a goal and assist as SPR clinched a playoff berth with a 3-0 win on the road against OKC Energy FC.
F – Villyan Bijev, Portland Timbers 2: Bijev had one goal and two assists to lead T2 to a pair of wins, and move into a tie for the league lead in assists with nine on the season.
Bench: Alex Tambakis (CHS), Kadeem Dacres (LOU), Florian Valot (NY), Ariel Lassiter (LA), Pedro Baez (SLC), Franck Tayou (SA), Neco Brett (POR)
