Starry nights: ProSoccerTalk’s MLS Team of the Week

Major League Soccer’s Round 6:

Goalkeeper:

• Chivas USA’s Dan Kennedy

Rationale, motive and intent: Chivas USA’s No. 1 needed to be big near the end in Toronto as the Goats secured their third road win of 2012. He was also Major League Soccer’s Player of the Week (separate from ProSoccerTalk’s Player of the Week.)

Back line:

• San Jose’s Steven Beitashour
• Kansas City’s Aurelien Collin
• Los Angeles’ David Junior Lopes
•  Seattle’s Zach Scott

Rationale, motive and intent: Scott was Seattle’s right back Saturday, scoring against Colorado and holding down his side with a starter’s verve, never mind that he’s a seldom-used backup. David Junior Lopes won’t make anyone around the Home Depot Center forget about Omar Gonzalez, but his debut in a Galaxy shirt was solid enough. (One caveat, it came against struggling Portland, so we’ll see about this one …)

Midfield:

• D.C. United’s Perry Kitchen
• Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso
• San Jose’s Rafael Baca
• Kansas City Roger Espinoza
• Philadelphia’s Keon Daniel

Rationale, motive and intent: Lots of defensive-minded midfielders in this one. Kitchen played perhaps  his best match this year for United. Baca was on top of things after a slow start in his team’s 2-2 draw in New York. Daniel, skillful on offense and defense and always busy on the Union’s left side, is one of Major League Soccer’s underrated men this  year.

Forward:

• FC Dallas’ Blas Perez

Rationale, motive and intent: I pretty much covered it yesterday in a post about Perez. Short version: he’s a bustling bit of industry and finds plenty of ways to make a positive impact. Saturday it was a goal and an assist.