Luis Robles
ESNY Graphic

New York Red Bulls’ Luis Robles, and New York City F.C.’s Maximiliano Moralez and Valentin Castellanos all named to the MLS Team of the Week.

Onz Chery

Here’s the good thing about having two New York teams in the MLS: more opportunity for an MLSer who plays for New York to shine and make the Team of the Week.

Three players representing the Big Apple made this week’s MLS Team of the Week: New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles, and New York City F.C. forward Valentin Castellanos and his teammate, Maximiliano Moralez.

Moralez didn’t only make the team of the week, but was also selected as the Audi Player Index. NYCFC’s Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Moralez are the only two New York players who won the Audi Player Index so far this season.

The Bronx Blues had a player in the Starting XI of the Team of the Week eight times compared to RBNY’s six times.

But last time both sides had players who won the accolade in the same round was on April 29, thanks to NYCFC striker Heber dos Santos and Red Bulls fullback Connor Lade.

In order to win the Audi Player Index, Moralez tallied two goals and two assists in NYCFC’s 4-2 victory over Philadelphia Union.

His first goal was from the spot in the 23rd minute. Castellanos drew the penalty. It was a questionable one. The 20-year-old received a sublime long ball from Moralez, paced in the box, then fell after Philadelphia Union center back Auston Trusty lightly wrapped his arm around him.

Moralez’s second goal was another PK in the 55th minute.

Same story, he passed the ball to Castellanos, who drew a disputable penalty. That time Moralez and his fellow Argentine executed an exquisite one-two in the box. Philadelphia captain Alejandro Bedoya shouldered Castellanos; the youngster made most of it, dropping himself down inside the box.

Moralez’s first assist was a crisp short pass to Castellanos on the top of the box in the 72nd minute and his second one was from another one-two with his compatriot in the 78th minute.

The 32-year-old leads the league in assists, racking 11 in 13 matches.

Castellanos made the Team of the Week after scoring two goals that rallied The Boys in Blue back to a 4-2 victory versus the Union, a low-shot from outside the 18 in the 72nd minute and a smooth poke-finish in the box six minutes later.

Over to the red side of New York, Robles notched seven saves in The Metros’ 3-1 win against the Chicago Fire to make the Team of the Week. It’s the second time this season the American won the selection.

Originally from Haiti, Ralph 'Onz' Chery started his writing career as a City College of New York student with The Campus. He also wrote for First Touch, the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and other local leagues. After graduating, Onz started covering the New York Red Bulls for ESNY and joined Haitian Times.