The Gatorade Team of the Week for the sixteenth week of Canadian Premier League action in 2022, brought to you by Kristian Jack and OneSoccer’s Oliver Platt.
Goalkeeper
Callum Irving (Pacific FC)
Pacific has scored goals for fun in recent weeks, but keeping them out of their own net has mostly proven more difficult. This week was different, as Irving made three saves to help preserve a much-needed clean sheet for Pacific.
Defenders
Miguel Acosta (Atlético Ottawa)
Acosta has been a crucial part of Ottawa’s rise to the top of the CPL table. He put in another brilliant defensive performance against York over the weekend, winning seven of ten duels, making five interceptions and four clearances as Atleti picked up their league-leading seventh clean sheet.
Amer Didic (Pacific FC)
Against one of the league’s best offensive sides in Cavalry, Didic was immense. He made nine clearances, won three of four duels in the air and even had two shot attempts to help Pacific to one of its best defensive performances of the season.
Drew Beckie (Atlético Ottawa)
Leading from the back as he always does for Ottawa, the skipped delivered a classy performance against York. He completed 45 of his 48 passes on the day, created a chance, had two shots, and won two fouls.
There's a new team at the top of the #CanPL table ?⚪️?
? @atletiOttawa's @DrewBeckie chats with @KristianJack in front of the travelling Ottawa supporters after a club record 3-0 win at York Lions Stadium pic.twitter.com/NswoEYtcgc
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 24, 2022
Midfielders
Rezart Rama (Forge FC)
Having only joined Forge in mid-May, Rama has already made himself a fixture in the Gatorade Team of the Week. He once again made more touches than any other Forge player, and maybe 17 passes into the final third.
Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
In a battle of the presses on Saturday, it was Bekker’s press and interception that led to Forge’s winning goal. He won possession back eight times in total, including twice in the final third, an impressive effort on a hot day in Hamilton.
Sean Young (Pacific FC)
Players and coaches alive have been raving about Young in recent weeks, and for good reason. The young midfielder was brilliant in all areas of the field against Cavalry, and his ability to move the ball quickly in transition was a key to Pacific’s success.
Max Tissot (Atlético Ottawa)
Tissot was allowed to get a bit further forward than in recent weeks against York, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. His brilliant ball to Brian Wright gave Atlético a critical second goal in their 3-0 victory.
Forwards
Terran Campbell (Forge FC)
Campbell is now the CPL’s all-time leading goalscorer between regular season and playoffs after a two-goal performance against Valour. This was only the second match he had scored in all season, as his other two goals both came three months prior against FC Edmonton, but he looks to be rounding back into the Player of the Year nominee calibre player of last year.
Marco Bustos (Pacific FC)
Bustos finally scored his first goal of the CPL season, as part of a performance that reminded the rest of the league why he is one of its best attacking players. Aside from the goal, he was a threat throughout, helping to create an own-goal and three chances during the match.
ICYMI @marcobustos10 scored his first goal of the season last night ?
All the angles of the @Pacificfccpl star's strike ?#CanPL l ?: @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/i8znkv59Yy
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 24, 2022
Lifumpa Mwandwe (HFX Wanderers)
Mwandwe came off the bench in his debut for Halifax and instantly changed the game against FC Edmonton. His directness caused the Eddies plenty of issues, so much so that he was able to win a 71st minute penalty that Sam Salter converted for the equalizer.