Colorado Rapids midfielder Felipe GutiƩrrez recorded his first Team of the Week honor since returning to MLS on Tuesday after helping the Burgundy Boys to a shutout over D.C. United on the weekend. The Chilean's spot on the bench is his first while with the Rapids.
GutiƩrrez played all 90 minutes in the cross-conference matchup on Sunday, delivering four dangerous corners into the box and recording two shots in that time.
The midfielder's attacking performance wasn't all that highlighted his game at Audi Field. GutiƩrrez came up big in the 67th minute when D.C. United's Chris Benteke tried for a header in the box, only to be denied by the Chilean with a goal-line clearance to keep the clean sheet for the Rapids.
"What none of us knew is how complete of a midfielder he is. His willingness to run, his unselfishness, he never carries himself like a player that's been named the best player in the entire Dutch first division, he never carries himself like that. He just goes to work," said head coach Robin Fraser postgame at Audi Field.
"I've been really impressed with his unselfishness and by that I mean he's willing to go and work in places that probably won't lead to goals, and he does it without ever asking questions. Whenever we need him to play and however we need him to play he's so willing to do it and I think his defensive work rate and diligence has been huge for us."
MLS Team of the Week - Week 29
F: Kei Kamara (MTL), Hany Mukhtar (NSH)
M: Luciano Acosta (CIN), Daniel Gazdag (PHI), Sebastian Lletget (DAL), Djordje Mihailovic (MTL)
D: Nouhou (SEA), Rodrigues (SJ), Walker Zimmerman (NSH), Ryan Hollingshead (LAFC)
GK: Djordje Petrovic (NE)
Coach: Jim Curtin (PHI)
Bench: Gaga Slonina (CHI), Nick Hagglund (CIN), Felipe GutierrƩz (COL), Alan Velasco (DAL), Santiago Moreno (POR), Lorenzo Insigne (TOR), Javier Hernandez (LA)
