Dean earns his fifth mention of the year, with Lapa joining him in this week’s honor roll
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 25 of the 2022 regular season on Tuesday, with Birmingham players Bruno Lapa and Jonny “Hotlinks” Dean both making an appearance.
Oakland Roots SC goalkeeper Paul Blanchette was voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after posting 13 saves across two contests during the week, including an outstanding nine-save outing in Roots SC’s midweek victory against San Diego Loyal SC.
The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.
Lapa and Dean were both featured this week, with Dean making his fifth Team of the Week appearance and Lapa his second after being named Player of the Week for week 23. Hotlinks’ ecstatic form this season has tied him with leading Legion goal scorer Enzo Martinez for the most Team of the Week mention’s in a Legion uniform this season.
Lapa put up one of his best play-making games of the season against New York Red Bulls II on Sunday to earn a spot, registering two assists and eight chances created in Legion’s comprehensive 3-1 victory. The Brazilian has been in hot form as of late and has started every match since July 27 where he scored the first ever hat-trick in history for the Three Sparks.
Dean, on the other hand, has continued to set the standard for attacking right-backs in the League. The southern son scored the equalizer against New York with a delicate finish to the near post thanks to some link-up play with Lapa that saw the ball expertly leap over defenders into the path of an onrushing Hotlinks. His goal displayed a striker’s level of finishing that exhibits the right-backs depth. Additionally, Dean had more final-third entries than any Birmingham player in Sunday’s game.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 25
GK – Paul Blanchette, Oakland Roots SC: Blanchette recorded 13 saves across a pair of contests, including a nine-save outing in Roots SC’s 3-1 victory against San Diego Loyal SC on Wednesday night, to register a -2.93 goals-minus-expected goals mark for the week.
D – Eder Borelli, El Paso Locomotive FC: The Mexican full back notched a pair of assists and had five chances created overall in Locomotive FC’s 3-1 victory against Phoenix Rising FC and won 4 of 4 duels and made a pair of clearances defensively.
D – Erik Pimentel, Rio Grande Valley FC: The center back tallied a fine headed goal in the Toros’ 5-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC and completed 69 of 70 passes – completing 6 of 6 long passes – while winning 4 of 7 duels and making five recoveries.
D – Conor Donovan, Sacramento Republic FC: Donovan scored the only goal as Sacramento earned a 1-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday for its first league win against its NorCal rival while winning 3 of 3 duels and making four interceptions defensively.
M – Leo Fernandes, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Fernandes recorded a goal and assist in the Rowdies’ 3-1 victory against Orange County SC on Saturday night and notched seven chances created while winning 12 of 17 duels, 5 of 6 aerial duels, and completing 5 of 6 dribbles.
M – Jose Francisco Torres, Rio Grande Valley FC: The former United States international recorded a pair of assists and six chances created while completing 57 of 61 passes and making two interceptions in the Toros’ 5-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC.
M – Bruno Lapa, Birmingham Legion FC: The Brazilian notched a pair of assists and had three shots and eight chances created to serve as the catalyst for Legion FC’s 3-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls II on Sunday evening, winning 3 of 5 duels and completing 44 of 56 passes overall.
M – Jonas Fjeldberg, Rio Grande Valley FC: The Norwegian scored twice on four shots and had two chances created in Rio Grande Valley’s victory against Las Vegas Lights FC and made three recoveries defensively in a bright attacking performance.
F – Luis Solignac, El Paso Locomotive FC: The Argentine recorded two goals on five shots in Locomotive FC’s 3-1 win against Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday night and completed 19 of 20 passes and one chance created while also winning 7 of 9 duels.
F – Albert Dikwa, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Cameroonian scored both goals to lead the Hounds to a 2-1 victory on the road against Atlanta United 2 and had three shots overall while completing 22 of 25 passes and winning 2 of 3 aerial duels in a strong all-around performance.
F – Pato Botello Faz, Detroit City FC: The Mexican striker scored twice on four shots as Le Rouge earned a 3-0 victory on the road against the Charleston Battery and completed 16 of 21 passes as DCFC continued its drive toward a postseason berth.
Bench: Tim Trilk (IND), Jonathan Dean (BHM), Paco Craig (MIA), Robbie Dambrot (IND), Tsubasa Endoh (LA), Dario Suarez (TUL), Joel Johnson (HFD)
Legion FC’s next home game on the calendar is Wednesday, September 14, at 7:00PM versus the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in a pivotal contest in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and fans can grab tickets today!
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