Players of the MLS Matchday 12 - ranked
By Alex Windley
The players brought out all the action in Week 12 of Major League Soccer.
As the 2023 season rolls on, each week, the performances on the field get better.
From a youngster being the first Academy product to score for the first team, to a Brazilian magician making his presence known in the Pacific Northwest, week 12 saw several players continue to elevate their levels to drag their teams to victory.
Here are the top five players from week twelve…
5. David Ruiz
David Ruiz became the first Inter Miami Academy product to score for the first team in their 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution.
Though Ruiz is only nineteen, his impact on the pitch was felt as he not only scored but also assisted on Miami’s second goal of the night, slotted in by forward Josef Martinez.
With the long-term injury to midfielder Jean Mota, Ruiz has seamlessly fit into Miami’s midfield and has shown he is more than ready for consistent MLS minutes.
4. Julian Carranza
Julian Carranza is back on the score sheet for the Philadelphia Union as they battled the Colorado Rapids in a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Carranza’s last MLS goal came in the Union’s 4-2 thrashing of Toronto FC in late April. Seeing the Argentine regain solid attacking form is good news for the City of Brotherly Love.
His goal and assist against the Rapids saw the Union get another three points, which pushed them to fifth in the Eastern Conference.
3. Justin Meram
Though Charlotte FC isn’t at the top of the Eastern Conference, they still have enough quality to win when needed.
In their 3-1 win over Atlanta United, that spark of quality came in the form of winger Justin Meram, whose two-goal performance shocked Atlanta fans and players alike.
Meram, alongside forward Karol Swiderski, was the most potent attacker for the Queen City, with the former ending the game with two goals on three total shots and six defensive recoveries.
2. Daniel Salloi
Sporting KC has had a rough start to 2023, but as of late, the Peter Vermes-led team has had a decent turnaround, winning two of their last three MLS games.
In their latest win vs. Minnesota United, winger Daniel Salloi was Sporting’s primary attacking target, as he ended the game with a goal and assist to lead the men in blue to a resounding 3-0 victory.
Though Salloi hasn’t been too impactful on the offensive front for Kansas City, in this game, the 26-year-old changed the narrative and showed out for his club, leading them to just their second win of the year.
1. Evander
Evander has made his presence in MLS known as he led the Portland Timbers to a 3-1 thumping over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Brazilian playmaker showed out for the Timbers as he controlled the midfield and made a menace of himself inside the Whitecaps’ final third.
He ended the game with two goals, two created chances, four passes into the final third, and six recoveries.
Although the Timbers started the season slowly, with Evander in form, it’s only a matter of time before they begin to inch back into the upper echelon of the Western Conference.