The Gatorade Team of the Week for the nineteenth week of Canadian Premier League action in 2024, brought to you by OneSoccer’s Oliver Platt.
Goalkeeper
Jassem Koleilat (Forge FC)
Forge’s goalkeeper put in two strong performances this week — first keeping a clean sheet and making a pair of saves against the Halifax Wanderers on Wednesday, before making three more in a 2-1 victory over Vancouver FC in Langley on Sunday.
Defenders
Amer Didić (Atlético Ottawa)
Didić helped Atlético Ottawa keep a clean sheet at Starlight Stadium with a dominant defensive display. He made a stunning 12 clearances, while also consistently cutting out aerial threats in the Atleti box.
Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC)
The Cavalry defender put in another strong shift to help see out a crucial victory at York Lions Stadium. He completed 22 of his 24 passes in the match, while making five clearances as the Cavs held on for a big 2-1 victory over York United.
Ilias Iliadis (Atlético Ottawa)
Playing as a left-sided central defender, Iliadis was fantastic for the capital club on Saturday. He scored a stunning Olimpico, won possession six times and looks like he could be a really important piece for this Atleti team again over the back half of the season.
Ilias Iliadis… WOW 😳
Atlético Ottawa now lead 2-0 🔴⚪️#CanPL | 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/Dd0DkPuFmA
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) August 17, 2024
Midfielders
Fraser Aird (Cavalry FC)
The Cavalry fullback scored his third goal of the CPL season, which stood as the winner at York Lions Stadium on Friday night. He also won three of four duels, made four clearances and played four crosses.
Safwane Mlah (Valour FC)
Mlah is blossoming in the Valour midfield, as he assisted on Jordan Swibel’s match-winner against Halifax. He also completed 18 of his 19 passes, and lost possession just four times while demonstrating his outstanding on-ball ability.
Alessandro Hojabrpour (Forge FC)
Hojabrpour scored his first goal of the season on Wednesday against the Halifax Wanderers as part of a man-of-the-match performance which saw him control the midfield once again — completing 51 of 57 passes.
Maël Henry (Cavalry FC)
Henry scored an outstanding goal to open the scoring against York United on Friday. Playing as a central midfielder, he was one of Cavalry’s main attacking threats throughout the match, with three dribbles attempted, a chance created and three shots.
Mael Henry opens the scoring 🤩
The visitors take the lead. What a finish 👀#CanPL | 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/L9q51Sn9cy
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) August 17, 2024
Themi Antonoglou (Valour FC)
It was Antonoglou’s cross that led to Valour FC’s opening goal on Saturday against Halifax. He was excellent on both sides of the ball during the game, with seven crosses attempted, and a pair of interceptions, also winning three fouls.
Forwards
Jordan Swibel (Valour FC)
Make that seven goals on the season for Jordan Swibel, who provided yet another match winner for the Winnipeg club on Saturday against Halifax. The goal was a reward for a tireless performance, during which he had three shots while contesting 11 duels.
Jordi Swibel gives the hosts the lead 👀
What a season he is having 👏#CanPL | 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/5Ew4q8T348
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) August 18, 2024
Jordan Hamilton (Forge FC)
Making his first back-to-back starts in the league of the season, Hamilton scored against the Halifax Wanderers on Wednesday, before picking up an assist against Vancouver FC on Sunday. He had plenty of other chances as well, leading the line well for Forge.