Talk about a strong spine.
Three Vancouver Whitecaps FC players were named to the MLS Team of the Week on Monday after the ‘Caps earned a 1-0 road win over Orlando City SC: striker Octavio Rivero, midfielder Matias Laba, and Kendall Waston.
It’s no coincidence that all three of them play in the middle of the park. Coaches often talk about the importance of having a strong “spine” and how that correlates to winning games. Well, here’s Exhibit A.
Rivero scored the game's only goal, a spectacular stoppage-time header that has been nominated for MLS Goal of the Week.
Laba racked up a game-high five tackles and five interceptions and played a big part in keeping Kaká off the scoresheet.
And, alongside Diego Rodriguez, Waston was his "usual beastly self," as MLSsoccer.com put it. It wasn't necessarily the big man's most dominating performance, but he and Rodriguez barely put a foot wrong.
The graphic you see below are all of Laba and Waston's "defensive events" against Orlando (tackles, blocks, interceptions, clearances, and recoveries).
They were a bit busy.
Find out who else made the Team of the Week below.
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