The Gatorade Team of the Week for the fourteenth week of Canadian Premier League action in 2023, brought to you by Charlie O’Connor-Clarke and Oliver Platt.
Goalkeeper
Niko Giantsopoulos (York United)
The York United keeper helped his side hold on a point at home on Friday night with four brilliant saves against league-leaders Pacific FC. He also kept his fourth clean sheet of the season, and has now made 46 saves this season — second only to Valour’s Rayane Yesli.
The @AllstateCanada Save of the Match goes to Niko Giantsopoulos of @yorkutdfc for denying Ayman Sellouf of a scoring opportunity for @Pacificfccpl 🧤 #CanPL | @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/vuoZhw7FCK
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 15, 2023
Defenders
Fraser Aird (Cavalry FC)
Aird put in an absolute shift against the Halifax Wanderers on Saturday. He created four chances on a stunning 12 attempted crosses, resulting in his second straight appearance in the team of the week.
Diego Espejo (Atlético Ottawa)
After a rare break from the starting lineup midweek against Cavalry, Espejo was dominant against Vancouver FC on Sunday. The Spanish central defender made six clearances and completed 84 per cent of his passes as Ottawa cruised to a 3-1 victory.
Thomas Meilleur-Giguère (Pacific FC)
Meilleur-Giguère delivered a pair of solid road performances this past week, winning all four of his aerial battles and six of seven duels against Halifax, before leading a young Pacific backline to a clean sheet on Friday against York.
Miguel Acosta (Atlético Ottawa)
Acosta’s return to fullback has been a big reason why Atlético Ottawa are in such good form of late. He was excellent in Ottawa’s two wins this week, making 13 passes in the final third during a tidy performance against Cavalry, before scoring the opener against Vancouver FC, also winning possession back nine times and completing 39 of his 41 passes.
GOAL!@vanfootballclub's inability to successfully clear the ball leads to a punishment from Miguel Acosta, granting @atletiOttawa a 1-0 lead🍁⚽️#CanPL | @onesoccer
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 16, 2023
Midfielders
Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers)
The league leader in successful passes, Callegari continues to be the engine in the Halifax midfield. He completed 77 passes against Cavalry over the weekend, after playing 65 against Pacific on Tuesday. Between the two matches, the French midfielder also made 27 pass attempts in the final third.
Kyle Bekker (Forge FC)
It is a third straight appearance in the team of the week for the Forge captain. Bekker controlled the midfield against Valour, with 101 touches, three chances created and 30 passes in the final third.
Alberto Zapater (Atlético Ottawa)
Ottawa’s newest signing has already made quite the impact filling the club’s desperate need for a number six. Midweek against Cavalry he won 12 of 19 duels and made four tackles, before playing destroyer again against Vancouver, making three interceptions and winning four aerial duels.
Forwards
Carl Haworth (Atlético Ottawa)
Haworth delivered an outstanding performance against Vancouver FC. The Ottawa attacker set up the winner with some clever dribbling and a pinpoint cross in the box, before scoring the third in stoppage time himself.
Terran Campbell (Forge FC)
The Canadian Premier League’s Golden Boot leader added an eighth goal to his 2023 season tally on Saturday against Valour. Make that an incredible six goals in his last four matches for the league’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Massimo Ferrin (Halifax Wanderers)
The Halifax attacker was the man of the match as the Wanderers defeated Pacific 2-1 at home on Tuesday, with a goal and an assist as his side picked up their fourth straight home victory. He then had five shot attempts and two chances created against Cavalry over the weekend as he remains one of the league’s most in-form attackers.
GOAL ⚓️
Massimo Ferrin propels @HFXWanderersFC to a 1-0 advantage against @PacificFCCPL.#CanPL | @Onesoccer
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 11, 2023