Score a goal as a defender in a shutout victory over the Supporters’ Shield leaders, and it’s a virtual lock that you will get named to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week. That was the case for Jamison Olave this week, as he became the 11th different Real Salt Lake player to earn the honor.
Olave scored his second goal of the season, both of them game-winners, on Saturday in the 78th minute as RSL topped FC Dallas 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Add in his four interceptions and 85-percent pass efficiency and he was instrumental in RSL remaining unbeaten at home at 7-0-5 while climbing the charts in the Western Conference, now third at 11-8-7.
With upcoming matches against the Colorado Rapids and LA Galaxy, it was a goal and a win that could provide a momentum boost heading into another difficult string of matches.
“I think that this game gave us a lot of confidence. We know that Dallas had a very good team, they are first in our conference, now Colorado and LA they play very well but we know with this result we can win those games,” Olave said. “We know that we have our spot for the playoffs at home playing well and winning these games at home.”
Joining Olave on Team of the Week were goalkeeper Joe Willis (Houston Dynamo); defenders Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew SC), David Horst (Houston Dynamo) and Ronald Matarrita (New York City FC); midfielders Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City) and David Accam (Chicago Fire); and forwards Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls) and Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC).
For more on the Week 24 Team of the Week, click here.
Team of the Week
Week 1: Juan Manuel Martinez
Week 2: Sunday Stephen
Week 5: Aaron Maund, Joao Plata
Week 7: Nick Rimando, Demar Phillips
Week 9: Jordan Allen
Week 12: Justen Glad
Week 14: Yura Movsisyan
Week 15: Juan Manuel Martinez
Week 18: Demar Phillips
Week 19: Aaron Maund
Week 21: Joao Plata
Week 22: Javier Morales
Week 24: Jamison Olave
