Zardes, Porter capture MLS Team of the Week honors

The 2019 Major League Soccer season is still in its infancy, but don’t tell that to members of Columbus Crew SC. The Black & Gold started the season with strong performances against the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution, earning a draw against last year’s Supporters’ Shield winners in Week 1 and a 2-0 road victory against the Revolution on Saturday afternoon.

Following the opening week of the season, defender Gaston Sauro captured MLS Team of the Week honors, scoring the game tying goal and helping the team earn a point.

This week, it was forward Gyasi Zardes who was named to the Team of the Week after scoring both goals in the win at New England. The season is just two weeks old but the forward has already matched his road goal total from last season with his brace against the Revs.

Head coach Caleb Porter was named the league’s coach of the week after snapping the Revolution’s impressive 12-match home opener winning streak. The new Crew head coach remains unbeaten since taking over for Gregg Berhalter and looks to continue his winning ways against FC Dallas this Saturday at MAPFRE Stadium.

In his second year with the Black & Gold, Zardes looks to build on a season in which he scored a career-high 19 goals. With the strong start to 2019, it doesn’t look like the forward will take a dip in form anytime soon.

Porter is back into coaching after taking a year away from the game. The Indiana native returns to Ohio, where he began his head coaching career at the University of Akron.