Sporting KC’s Benny Feilhaber named MLS Player of the Week, bolsters his case for MVP honors
If Sporting Kansas City manages to make a deep run into the Major League Soccer playoffs later this year, it will likely have Benny Feilhaber to thank for reversing its fortunes.
The wily midfielder scored the opening two goals for Sporting KC in last Friday’s 3-1 victory over FC Dallas at Sporting Park. The performance was enough to garner him Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.
His first goal came from a free kick in the 65th minute to break a 0-0 deadlock. Feilhaber shot a rocket from 20 yards out that ricocheted off the far post; the Dallas goalkeeper never had a chance.
Feilhaber would put Sporting KC up another goal with a penalty kick 11 minutes later, giving his team a margin that Dallas couldn’t overcome.
His performance almost singlehandedly gave Sporting KC a much needed win after a string of dismal performances that stretched back to August 19, when the team lost to a ho-hum San Jose Earthquakes squad 5-0 at Sporting Park.
For the last month, there was genuine concern that Sporting KC, built with a roster that puts them among the best in MLS talentwise, could miss the playoffs. With last Friday’s victory, Sporting KC’s path to the postseason is hardly guaranteed but looks far better than it would have without the win over Dallas.
Even during the dark stretches of Sporting KC’s season, Feilhaber has remained a bright spot for the team. He leads the league in assists and has generally had a transformative effect on Sporting KC’s game. He has had a hand in scoring or assisting on 24 of Sporting KC’s 44 goals scored throughout the season.
He should be in the conversation for league MVP honors along with former Sporting KC striker and league-leading goalscorer Kei Kamara (now with Columbus) and Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco.
