The Gatorade Team of the Week for the twelfth week of Canadian Premier League action in 2024, brought to you by Kristian Jack and OneSoccer’s Oliver Platt.
Goalkeeper
Callum Irving (Vancouver FC)
Irving’s penalty save on Sean Young was a turning point in Thursday night’s Salish Sea Derby. He made five saves in total during another outstanding performance for the Eagles.
The @AllstateCanada Save of the Match is this crucial penalty stop by @vanfootballclub's Callum Irving 🧤#CanPL I 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/dAzUlVzgh0
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) June 28, 2024
Defenders
Rocco Romeo (Vancouver FC)
Romeo was immense at the back in Vancouver FC’s 2-1 win over Pacific on Thursday. He won three of five aerial duels, and made a stunning 10 clearances.
Amer Didić (Atlético Ottawa)
In a wild back-and-forth match in the nation’s capital, Didić helped Atleti secure a big victory over Forge FC. He scored a well-placed header and had three shots in total, while completing 45 of 50 passes. Defensively, he won all four of his duels contested.
GOAL 🤩
It's Amer Didić 👀 #CanPL | 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/VahVG8sGcH
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) June 29, 2024
Gianfranco Facchineri (Valour FC)
The 22-year-old central defender was excellent as Valour earned a clean sheet and victory against York United on Thursday. He completed 40 of his 49 passes, won two tackles and made four clearances.
Midfielders
Themi Antonoglou (Valour FC)
Antonoglou picked up his third assist of the season to help Valour to a 1-0 victory over York United. His outstanding overall performance down the left flank saw him create two chances, complete four dribbles and win three tackles.
Lorenzo Callegari (Halifax Wanderers)
The Halifax midfielder has been back to his best in recent weeks, and that was the case against Cavalry on Canada Day. He completed 55 of 60 passes, while making a team-leading 77 touches. Callegari also won possession ten times, and made three tackles on Monday.
Aboubacar Sissoko (Atlético Ottawa)
The Atleti midfielder scored an incredibly creative opener against Forge less than two minutes into the match on an overhead kick. He also completed 29 of 31 passes, and won five of eight duels during an overall quality outing on Friday.
Abou Sissoko WOW 🤩
He grabs a very early lead for Atlético Ottawa … 😳#CanPL | 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/nCRXQfyCXv
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) June 28, 2024
Riley Ferrazzo (Halifax Wanderers)
Ferrazzo was outstanding for Halifax down the right flank on Canada Day, contesting 15 duels and making two tackles and making 68 touches — second only to Lorenzo Callegari.
Forwards
Dani Morer (Atlético Ottawa)
Morer was exceptional off the bench for Ottawa, playing the cross that Liberman Torres headed home in second-half stoppage time to win Friday’s match against Forge 4-3. After joining the match in the 61st minute, he created two chances and completed 10 of 11 passes.
Diogo Ressurreição (Valour FC)
The Valour attacking midfielder scored his second goal of the season to lift the Winnipeg club to a 1-0 victory over York United. He also created two chances, and had four successful dribbles while winning nine duels.
Ryan Telfer (Halifax Wanderers)
Telfer has been in top form for Halifax since returning from international duty with Trinidad, and scored the lone goal in the Wanderers’ 1-0 win over Cavalry on Monday. He also created two chances, completed two dribbles and won possession twice in the final third.
Ryan Telfer, what a FINISH! 🤩
He opens the scoring in Halifax 👀#CanPL | 📺 @onesoccer pic.twitter.com/Ilaqj0mOMK
— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) July 1, 2024