The Gatorade Team of the Week for the sixteenth week of Canadian Premier League action in 2024, brought to you by Kristian Jack and OneSoccer’s Oliver Platt.
Goalkeeper
Jassem Koleilat (Forge FC)
The Forge goalkeeper kept his third clean sheet of the season in a 3-0 victory over the Halifax Wanderers on Saturday. Aside from making a pair of saves, his distribution was excellent with 24 of 29 passes completed.
Jassem Koleilat of @ForgeFCHamilton takes home the @AllstateCanada Save of the Match 🧤#CanPL I 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/V75Zkc4xIq
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 28, 2024
Defenders
Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge FC)
The Forge central defender was dominant at the back on Saturday, making seven clearances and five interceptions to help the Hamilton club complete the clean sheet.
Tom Field (Cavalry FC)
Asked to step in as a central defender at half-time against Vancouver FC on Friday after Charlie Trafford went off injured, Field hardly put a foot wrong. He completed 47 of 52 passes, created two chances and made five interceptions.
Themi Antonoglou (Valour FC)
Antonoglou took the league lead in assists on the season with his sixth, while also scoring his first Canadian Premier League goal in a 3-0 victory over Pacific FC on Sunday at Starlight Stadium. He also won six of seven duels, and possession eight times.
Themi Antonoglou grabs his FIRST #CanPL goal 🤩
He fires Valour FC into a 1-0 lead at Starlight Stadium 👀
📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/m2M4daVK2X
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 28, 2024
Midfielders
Juan Córdova (York United)
Córdova scored another long-range effort which stood as the match-winner on Friday against Atlético Ottawa. The midfielder also completed all 36 of his passes, and made three interceptions during another excellent performance.
Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
The Forge midfielder was essential to his side’s control of the match against Halifax on Saturday, kick-starting several attacking moments with tremendous long balls and switches. He completed 20 of his 21 passes — including a key crossfield ball which led to Forge’s third goal on the night.
Diego Gutiérrez (Cavalry FC)
Gutiérrez set up the Cavalry goal in a 1-0 victory over Vancouver FC with a clever bit of work down the right flank. It was one of his most dominant midfield performances of the season, as he won four tackles, 8 of 13 duels, and completed 57 of 64 passes.
Elijah Adekugbe (York United)
At the centre of this recent surge for the Nine Stripes has been Elijah Adekugbe. Scoring his first goal of the season on Friday, Adekugbe again played a critical role in York’s 4-1 win over Atlético Ottawa, also completing 57 of 60 passes and winning five on nine duels.
Elijah Adekugbe gets his first of the season 🤩
The hosts get the equalizer 👀#CanPL | 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/Ru8Q23310Y
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 26, 2024
Maël Henry (Cavalry FC)
In his first start of the season, Henry scored the match-winner against his former side Vancouver FC. The 20-year-old delivered a dynamic performance, which saw him take four shots, consistently getting into good areas in and around the VFC box.
Forwards
Kwasi Poku (Forge FC)
Poku scored his third brace, and seventh and eighth goals, in the past seven matches to move into a tie for the league’s Golden Boot after another tremendous performance in front of goal, this time against Halifax.
Kwasi Poku now has EIGHT goals in his last seven CPL matches with his two in the first half tonight 🔥
📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/CFQAOconXw
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 28, 2024
Shaan Hundal (Valour FC)
The Valour striker set up his side’s opener on Sunday, before stepping up and converting a penalty himself during one of his best performances for the Winnipeg side yet against Pacific FC.