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Forbes, Griffin land on USL Team of the Week

File photo courtesy Rachael Kriger

When USL Championship announced it’s Team of the Week on Tuesday, it was probably a sure bet that the Riverhounds SC veteran midfielder Kenardo Forbes would make it.

In a week when Birmingham Legion FC midfielder Bruno Lapa had been voted the Championship’s Player of the Week, Forbes was right there in the voting for his three-assist performance on Saturday evening in Chester, PA in the Hounds 6-0 drubbing of Philadelphia Union II.

Forbes finished second to Lapa with 18 percent of the vote.

“Kenny is just a special player,” Riverhounds SC Head Coach Bob Lilley said in his Zoom conference call with the media on Monday.

“Around the league he’s held in high regard. Now I see him talking more on the field, vocalizing certain things that need to be done with players around him. It’s a big help, especially when you have a lot of turnover on your roster. He’s able to make those players around him better, because he’s playing well and also giving other players the information to be successful. He’s a good passer and he gets better every year.”

Having 35 career assists at the USL Championship level, Forbes is two assists away from tying Maikel Chang for the league’s all-time record.

Meanwhile, Griffin made the best of his first professional start and posted a goal and two assists for a four-point night. After notching his first career assist in the 29th minute, the rookie out of Providence College scored his first career goal in the 37th minute, which gave the Hounds a 2-0 lead at the time. The Wethersfield, Connecticut native tacked on another assist in the second half.

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, including Pittsburgh Soccer Now’s John Krysinsky.

Last week, both Jordan Dover and Robbie Mertz earned Team of the Week honors while Ropapa Mensah was named to the bench.

Here’s the full Team of the Week below along with those on the bench including former Hounds Tyler Pasher, and for the second consecutive week: goalkeeper Kyle Morton:

 

GK – Parfait Mandanda, Hartford Athletic: Mandanda recorded a three-save shutout and provided the assist on the lone goal of the game as Hartford Athletic took victory on the road against the New York Red Bulls II.

D – Jesus Vazquez, LA Galaxy II: Vazquez scored the game-winning goal for Los Dos, and put in a solid display defensively as the visitors handed San Diego Loyal SC its first loss of its inaugural season at Torero Stadium.

D – Phanuel Kavita, Saint Louis FC: Kavita put in a strong display at the back with nine clearances and nine recoveries while winning 7 of 10 duels, and he also completed 32 of 38 passes in STLFC’s shutout win against Louisville City FC.

D – Andrew Fox, El Paso Locomotive FC: Fox scored once, completed 47 of 54 passes, recorded three chances created and recorded two tackles and five recoveries in his side’s 2-2 draw with New Mexico United.

M – Taiberson, Rio Grande Valley FC: The Brazilian scored a late equalizer against San Antonio FC after a performance that saw him register three shots, two chances created and win 11 of 13 duels while completing 36 of 43 passes overall.

M – Daniel Griffin, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Griffin recorded one goal and two assists in his first professional start, recording three key passes and completing 23 of 28 passes overall against the Philadelphia Union II.

M – Bruno Lapa, Birmingham Legion FC: Lapa recorded three goals and one assist in his first two professional appearances, leading Legion FC to victories against Memphis 901 FC and the Charleston Battery.

M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Forbes recorded the 18th instance of a three-assist game in the Championship’s history, and completed 66 of 80 passes, won 9 of 14 duels and made 10 recoveries as he led the Hounds against the Philadelphia Union II.

F – Jaime Chavez, OKC Energy FC: Chavez recorded two goals and one assist as Energy FC picked up four points on the week, including a goal and assist on his 33rd birthday in a 3-1 road win against Austin Bold FC.

F – Alec Diaz, Tacoma Defiance: Diaz scored two goals in two games and completed 25 of 28 passes over the two contests to help the Defiance take four points against Sacramento Republic FC and the Portland Timbers 2.

F – Dariusz Formella, Sacramento Republic FC: Formella scored twice on four shots, recorded three chances created and completed 26 of 32 passes overall in Sacramento’s 3-3 draw with Tacoma Defiance.

Bench:

Kyle Morton (STL), Abdul Rwatubyaye (COS), Daniel Robles (TAC), Leo Fernandes (TBR), Chris Wehan (NM), Brian Wright (BHM), Tyler Pasher (IND)

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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