Two teams tied on 99 points this round, as BL4CKnRED (left) and Euskadi put up matching scores. That enabled overall leader BL4CKnRED to slightly increase their lead to 79 points.
Positional Leaders
Goalkeepers
A healthy group of five goalkeepers tied for the positional lead with 9 points — Joe Willis (NSH, $7.8), Roman Burki (STL, $9.2), Maarten Paes (DAL, $8.2), Zac MacMath (RSL, $7.6), and Luis Barraza (NYC, $7.9). D.C.’s Tyler Miller ($8.0) scored 3 points.
Defenders
Tim Parker (STL, $8.7) paired a clean sheet with a goal on the way to 16 points, leading the defenders and splitting the overall lead, just ahead of Brooks Lennon (ATL, $10.9) who did the same for 15 points. Sam Junqua (DAL, $4.0) completed the top three with a goal and clean sheet of his own and 13 points. For United, Andy Najar ($6.2) scored 4 points, followed by Pedro Santos ($8.1) and Brendan Hines-Ike ($5.1) with 3, and Derrick Williams ($6.6) with 2.
Midfielders
Thiago Almada (ATL, $13.9) tallied a goal and an assist on the way to 16 points, leading the midfielders and sharing the overall lead with Tim Parker. Behind him was the 14-point pair of Facundo Torres (ORL, $10.4) and Emanuel Reynoso (MIN, $8.6), who each scored twice. The D.C. midfield was led by Lewis O’Brien ($7.5) with 6 points, followed by Chris Durkin ($7.2) with 4, Mateusz Klich ($8.7) with 3, and Yamil Asad ($4.0) with 1.
Forwards
Bongokuhle Hlongwane (MIN, $7.6) notched a goal and an assist, leading the forwards with 14 points. Behind him was the 11-point pair of Dominique Badji (CIN, $6.4), who scored twice, and Douglas Costa (LAG, $7.7), who had two assists. The scoring forwards for DCU were Christian Benteke ($8.3) and Cristian Dajome ($4.1) with 2 points, and Kristian Fletcher ($4.0) with 1.
Looking Ahead
It’s another double game week, as DCU, Toronto, Orlando, Colorado, Columbus, NYC, LAFC, Miami, the Galaxy, and Charlotte all play twice, and everyone else plays once. Maarten Paes looks good in goal vs. DCU and @ anemic Colorado, and Steven Moreira (CLB, $8.5) is a good defending option @ Miami and vs. NYC. Facundo Torres looks great in midfield vs. Toronto and @ RSL, and look at Cucho Ramirez (CLB, $8.4) at forward.