Each week of the Fall season, CanPL.ca will highlight the top five Volkswagen Premier Performers of the Week, while updating the overall standings as players from across the league compete to top the table and win a new Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Here are the 5 VW Premier Performers of the Week:
1) José Escalante (Cavalry FC) – 84.40
The Honduran’s brace finds him top in Week 21. Escalante saved the best (of the best) for last at Spruce Meadows. The winger’s late cut-in, outside-of-the-box curling finish was an absolute peach – a fitting cap to an all-around day that saw Escalante win the ball high up the pitch, pressure defenders well and win three fouls.
2) Raphael Garcia (Valour FC) – 84.63
Raphael Garcia had a strong statistical performance in Valour FC's clean sheet versus HFX; eight completed tackles, four clearances and 90% pass completion were particular highlights. The 21-year-old held off the combo of Juan Diego Guitierrez and Andre Bona well on the left side, too.
3) Skylar Thomas (Valour FC) – 83.53
Key to keeping that aforementioned clean sheet, the overpowering center-back was all over HFX attackers Saturday, jumping out to challenge on a break or showing defensive intellect to pull the ball away in the box, just as he did crucially against Mohamed Kourouma. Thomas ended with an astonishingly-high eight clearances and four interceptions.
4) Dominique Malonga (Cavalry FC) – 82.67
Another goalscorer in that 4-1 Cavalry win, Malonga found himself in the spaces as he often does — with the chances to score. A converted penalty a fitting cherry on top for the man in red.
5) Mohamed Kourouma (HFX Wanderers FC) – 82.28
Was his ears burning? Being undone by Thomas was one of several dangerous plays Kourouma set up for himself or others, generating several quality chances over a team-high three shots on target, two key passes and two crosses. His long passing certainly helped his VWPP score, peppering the ball across the pitch with ease.
ANALYSIS: Not a great week for goalkeepers in contention for the overall title. Marco Carducci’s half-point drop week-over-week was preceded by a fall for Nathan Ingham and Connor James. Ryan Telfer was the only player to see a slight increase after his weekend goal and is now one-tenth behind 905 Derby rival Tristan Borges. Download the Centre Circle app and submit your prediction for each week's VW Premier Performer, and check out the full, position-by-position Volkswagen Premier Performer tables here.
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1) José Escalante (Cavalry FC) – 84.40
The Honduran’s brace finds him top in Week 21. Escalante saved the best (of the best) for last at Spruce Meadows. The winger’s late cut-in, outside-of-the-box curling finish was an absolute peach – a fitting cap to an all-around day that saw Escalante win the ball high up the pitch, pressure defenders well and win three fouls.
2) Raphael Garcia (Valour FC) – 84.63
Raphael Garcia had a strong statistical performance in Valour FC's clean sheet versus HFX; eight completed tackles, four clearances and 90% pass completion were particular highlights. The 21-year-old held off the combo of Juan Diego Guitierrez and Andre Bona well on the left side, too.
3) Skylar Thomas (Valour FC) – 83.53
Key to keeping that aforementioned clean sheet, the overpowering center-back was all over HFX attackers Saturday, jumping out to challenge on a break or showing defensive intellect to pull the ball away in the box, just as he did crucially against Mohamed Kourouma. Thomas ended with an astonishingly-high eight clearances and four interceptions.
4) Dominique Malonga (Cavalry FC) – 82.67
Another goalscorer in that 4-1 Cavalry win, Malonga found himself in the spaces as he often does — with the chances to score. A converted penalty a fitting cherry on top for the man in red.
5) Mohamed Kourouma (HFX Wanderers FC) – 82.28
Was his ears burning? Being undone by Thomas was one of several dangerous plays Kourouma set up for himself or others, generating several quality chances over a team-high three shots on target, two key passes and two crosses. His long passing certainly helped his VWPP score, peppering the ball across the pitch with ease.
Top 5 Overall
RANK | PLAYER | CLUB | POINTS (Avg./match) |
1 | Marco Carducci | Cavalry FC | 79.64 |
2 | Tristan Borges | Forge FC | 75.92 |
3 | Ryan Telfer | York9 FC | 75.91 |
4 | Nathan Ingham | York9 FC | 75.66 |
5 | Connor James | FC Edmonton | 75.22 |
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