MLS team of the week: James Pantemis saves two pens for the Timber; Tai Baribo keeps scoring for the Union

There is plenty of entertainment a certain weekend in MLS, but week three of the regular season have delivered a number of striking individual performances, because the image clears over which teams can be in the long term in 2025.

Albert Rusnak is perhaps the best contender for player of the week thanks to his only goal, two assist game in the amazing 5-2 victory of the Seattle Sounders over Lafc, while Portland Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis achieved an impressive performance of his own performance by saving two Penalties in Nashville of his team. Players of the Philadelphia Union also excelled when they came up in the first place in the Eastern Conference, and the same applies to the Chicago Fire stands that head coach Gregg Berhalter helped his first victory since they returned to the competition.

Here is a look at the team of the week.

Goalkeeper

James Pantemis, Portland Timbers: After saving two penalties in the first half against Nashville SC, Panermis only became the second keeper in the MLS history to save several fines in the first half since Tony Meola in 2002. Although he granted two goals in the game, the scoring of 10 rescues behind a bad Portland defense is more than enough for Team of the Week.

Defenders

With three left rear scoring and another picking up an assist, choosing defenders for Team of the Week was a tough task, but we were able to settle:

Andrew Gutman, Chicago Fire: The fire was able to destroy a shortage of one goal to beat FC Dallas and a big reason behind it was not only Gutman’s goal, but constantly bombing to overload the left side of the field. Gutman takes 61 touches and is a large part of the plan of Gregg Berhalter in Chicago, which although it has had growth pains, is promising.

Andy Najar, Nashville SC: Just like Gutman, Najar was part of everything that Nashville did against the Portland Timbers and was able to score a goal from his four shots, tops among defenders. However, Najar’s win is the loss of Portland and the team should be a bit worried about their early seasonal form.

Thursday Makhanya, Philadelphia Union: During the shimmering start of the Union of the season, Makhanya was in strong form and it was everywhere to contain the attack of New England. Three tackles, 10 clearance and five interceptions are a monster performance for a center back on the ground.

Noah Allen, Inter Miami: Thirty -eight minute red card? No problem for Miami with the 20-year-old American who anchors the defense of Miami. He led a huge performance when Miami Lionel Messi-Sless managed to win, even though he was a man for almost an hour. It is the kind of performance that all this season will often have to produce as a Miami side that has its money and has loaded international slots in its aging stars at the front, will once again compete at the highest level.

Midfielders

Albert Rusnak, Seattle Sounders: Rusnak came from the bank of Pedro de la Vega, could help two goals and score in a wild 5-2 victory over Los Angeles FC. That is not only good enough for the honor of Team of the Week, but also player of the week.

Jovan Lukic, Philadelphia Union: Lukic scored his first goal for the Union and showed why he is a do-it-all defensive midfielder by creating an opportunity to touch his goal of the post and be everywhere for the Union. On other days, Bradley Carnell may not want to make six shots, but on days when this is the result, nobody complains.

Anders Dreyer, San Diego FC: Even without hiring Lozano, Dreyer stepped up to deliver the Go-Ahead goal for San Diego. He also created no fewer than five chances with Real Salt Lake, so San Diego could let the whole space go into the world.

Ahead

Paul Rothrock, Seattle Sounders: Score five goals and it is no surprise that the Sounders lead most members of the team of the week. Rothrock scored a goal and an assist during the game, while he was also defensively involved.

Hugo Cuypers, Chicago Fire: In the Golden Boot Race with his third goal of the season, Cuypers helped a goal and had his shot on Target Force a different goal during the game. If the fire breaks their play -off drought, Cuypers will be a strong part of it.

Tai Bararibo, Philadelphia Union: No attacker has scored more goals in their first three games than Baribo with six. He set a record in 1999 by Ante Rostov and is the clear Golden Boot leader for the perfect Philadephia Union.