Fresh off another week of great MLS action, ISN columnist Philippe Chauveau continues his rating of MLS goalkeepers. Chauveau, a former collegiate keeper himself, will be completing this weekly column so ISN readers gain a better understanding of the goalkeeping profession.
Save of the Week: Steve Clark vs. Harry Shipp/Ignacio Piatti
Mistake of the Week: Jake Gleeson vs. Cristian Bolanos
1. David Bingham
It was an uneventful week for the goalies at the top of the board. Bingham didn’t have a particularly good game, although an impressive save scurrying across goal on an Ozzie Alonzo shot was part of his weekend. However, Jordan Morris’ goal from 25 yards out was a poor attempt, and he just didn’t look ready for a shot. It looks like Bingham was checking the weakside for runners and when he realized what was coming it was too late.
2. David Ousted
Ousted continues to be a bright spot in Vancouver games, and a large part of the reason why I watch them. He did really well to force Darlington Nagbe wide on his 1 v 1 with him, but Nat Borchers was sliding at the far post to guarantee a Timbers goal. Sometimes you do everything right, and still get scored on.
3. Andre Blake
The big Jamaican didn’t take the field as the Union had a week off.
4. Stefan Frei
Frei comes up a couple of spots in the rankings due to a very good performance against the Earthquakes, who have been flying this season. Sure, Frei had a couple of balls hit the frame of the goal, but that also says a lot about how far the San Jose strikers were trying to put it from him. Besides, every great goalie needs luck on his side.
5. Nick Rimando
One of his saves made it into the MLS Save of the Week voting poll, but I believe that it was nothing more than a routine save – it only looked spectacular because Rimando is so unorthodox. He drops a spot for parrying almost every shot that went in his direction this weekend.
6. Luis Robles
Robles also made the MLS Save of the Week poll, due to a problem he created himself. He parried a low shot from about 20 yards out that he either has to hold onto, or parry into touch. He did neither, and if not for a Cyle Larin uncharacteristic mishit and his impressive agility, it would have been a mistake that led to a goal instead of potential save of the week.
7. Bobby Shuttleworth
The New Engand Revs and Bobby here got overrun by the Galaxy. Four goals, nothing to do in any of them, and it was a pretty shaky performance overall mostly because the Galaxy dominated the game.
8. Jesse Gonzalez
He dealt well with Sebastian Giovinco on the opposing side, although the Atomic Ant terrorized Gonzalez the entire match. Dallas certainly looks like a better team with him in net. His collision with Will Johnson was unfortunate, and not the worst collision a goalie has ever been in the receiving end of, but it looks like we’ll be seeing a bit of Chris Seitz at least next week. Also, special mention to Ryan Hollingshead, who held his own in goal for the last ten minutes of the game.
9. Steve Clark
Clark had his best game of the season, despite being on the receiving end of four goals. The last goal was a throw in into the box in the 92nd minute, and I expect Clark to be more assertive. However, he did have our Save of the Week on a double save after coming out courageously to meet Harry Shipp, and then to get out and corral Nacho Piatti’s shot also.
10. Brian Rowe
Los Angeles ran over New England’s defense, but the start of the second half was a mess for LA. Rowe sees Steve Clark pass him on the rankings due to the lack of organization his defense displayed.
11. Evan Bush
No matter how much Montreal’s tandem of Didier Drogba and Piatti keeps making magic, if Bush can’t hold his own in the back, they’re not going anywhere. Not even Laurent Ciman, MLS’s Defender of the Year in 2015, has been able to save them this year. Bush again demonstrated his hesitant nature on lofted balls, and his poor timing was apparent on Kei Kamara’s second goal.
12. Josh Saunders
It was an uneventful game from a goalie standpoint for Saunders this week, not much to do against D.C. However, he had a great save tipping the ball away from a proven goal scorer in Alvaro Saborio, who pushed the ball by him only to see Saunders spring sideways and claw the ball away.
13. Clint Irwin
Irwin was a huge part of TFC’s win this weekend, and including coming out on crosses, which have been his weakness. I also often question his athleticism, but a kick save on a Fabian Castillo 1 v 1 showed impressive flexibility.
14. Tyler Deric
Deric showed the form that had him as a top 5 goalie last year this weekend. Although he didn’t make any saves, he never looked like getting scored on. Despite a couple of set backs, his confidence still looks unshaken.
15. Travis Worra
The young D.C. goalkeeper did what he could to keep Spanish All-Star David Villa off the score sheet but Villa, as usual, got his way.
16. Joe Bendik
Somewhat of a mishap on the Bradley Wright-Phillips’ goal, as he came out at the wrong time and wrong angle. Bendik continues to improve though, and he looks more comfortable in net every game. He won’t ever be a top goalie in this league, but he might be enough to help Orlando City grow into a contender.
17. Jake Gleeson
Well the marvelous start against Toronto really took a hit this weekend. Gleeson went from hero to villain in Portland, and that’s how quickly things change for a goalie. I did feel like last week the saves he was making we’re being a little embellished, and I felt the same way this week – I think he tries to do too much, and he was parrying shots from about 25 yards out that he should have held. He left the near post wide open on Kudo’s goal, and the second goal he allowed goes down as the Mistake of the Week. A cross from Christian Bolanos that went just over Blas Perez’s head somehow fooled him to the point that it bounced between his legs and into the goal. Unacceptable.
18. Tim Melia
Melia has been seesawing through the rankings for a few weeks now, and this week he’s at an all-time low – two mistakes in two Houston goals will do that. Firstly, Giles Barnes made solid contact with the ball, but it wasn’t near the corner of the net. He reacts a fraction too slowly, and gets his hand to where the ball was a little too late. He continued to show signs of weakness with a couple more easy holds that he parried into the middle of the box, and then came Andrew Wenger’s goal. A powerful shot in his near post that Melia thinks is going over the bar, so he lets it go. You can tell he knows he messed up, when he screams into his hands afterward.
19. Zac MacMath
Colorado’s confidence is sky high – and this seems to be oozing into MacMath’s gloves as well. He had his best game this year, and Colorado escaped with a 1-0 win not only because of Jermaine Jones, but also because of MacMath.
20. Matt Lampson
No game.
