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Brent Kallman and Franco Fragapane Earn Team of the Week Honors

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It was a “do or die” Decision Day for Minnesota United, as 19,941 fans — the most in Allianz Field history — packed together to watch MNUFC come through with a dramatic 2-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps, clinching their spot in the playoffs and earning MLS Team of the Week honors for two of their very own: defender Brent Kallman and winger Franco Fragapane.

Brent Kallman was in denial mode throughout Sunday’s match, and was integral in keeping a determined Vancouver side out of the net. Many through balls and cross attempts were thwarted by the center back, who consistently put his body on the line to force a stop. Sunday’s match marked Kallman’s 107th game played with Minnesota United, and the veteran defender stepped up in a big way to help push his team through to the postseason.

Franco Fragapane set Allianz Field into a frenzy after his 17th-minute goal put the Loons up 1-0. MNUFC had scored only two goals over their last six matches when the Argentine came through with an absolute laser to the bottom left corner of the net. His early score turned the tides in MNUFC’s favor and kick-started confident and tenacious gameplay from the Loons.

Beyond his perfectly-placed goal, Fragapane was in the thick of it throughout the match, winning tackles and pushing the ball into the attack. With four attacking assists – the most out of any player – Fraga was a major key to the Loons win on Decision Day.

See the full MLS Team of the Week for Week 34 below:

F: Elias Manoel (RBNY), Brenner (CIN), Jefferson Savarino (RSL) M: Daniel Gazdag (PHI), Djordje Mihailovic (MTL), Nicolas Lodeiro (SEA), Junior Urso (ORL) D: Jack Elliott (PHI), Brent Kallman (MIN), Bryan Oviedo (RSL) GK:Joe Willis (NSH) Coach: Pablo Mastroeni (RSL) Bench: Carlos Coronel (RBNY), Shaq Moore (NSH), Gaston Brugman (LA), Sebastian Lletget (DAL), Franco Fragapane (MIN), Facundo Torres (ORL), Brandon Vazquez (CIN)