MLS Week 20 best players - ranked

Week 20 of the 2022 MLS season saw the continuation of the league's Rivalry Week, with yet more entertaining clashes.

Austin FC further asserted their Texas dominance with a 3-1 win over the Houston Dynamo, the LA Galaxy collapsed in the first half to lose 3-2 against the San Jose Earthquakes, and DC United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with the Columbus Crew.

Here are 90min's top five players from the midweek madness:

5. Maxime Chanot (NYCFC)

All too often, these columns are dedicated entirely to forwards, so, let's start with a defender.

NYCFC had to dig deep to get over the line in their 1-0 win away at FC Dallas but it simply wouldn't have been possible without the efforts of center-back Maxime Chanot.

The Luxembourg international monstrous defensive performance saw him make five clearances, three blocks, two tackles, two interceptions, and one recovery, while he relieved pressure by drawing two fouls.

Chanot was in the right place, at the right time, every time to help NYCFC keep a clean sheet.

4. Dejan Joveljic (LA Galaxy)

Dejan Joveljic is finally getting the starts he deserves at the LA Galaxy and he repaid Greg Vanney during the week with a brace to take his season tally to eight goals in MLS play. Seven of those have come in his last six appearances.

Unfortunately, these two only came after Joveljic's defensive teammates had collapsed in the first half, allowing the San Jose Earthquakes to take a 3-0 lead into the break.

Joveljic couldn't overturn that scoreline on his own but he did do enough to get into our top five.

3. Cucho Hernandez (Columbus Crew)

Cucho Hernandez has been in Major League Soccer for all of 73 minutes, but already he has three goals to his name - enough to put him third on the Columbus Crew's scoring charts.

The Colombia international was introduced at half-time against DC United on Wednesday and grabbed two goals - both assisted by Lucas Zelarayan - to twice put the Crew in front.

Columbus couldn't hold out and drew 2-2, but the early signs suggest a budding partnership between Cucho and Zelarayan which should see them into the Playoffs.

2. Ronaldo Cisneros (Atlanta United)

Gonzalo Pineda needed a reaction after Atlanta United's 3-0 hammering at home to Austin FC on Sunday, so made a host of changes as Real Salt Lake came to town.

The boldest move was dropping Josef Martinez to the bench in favor of Ronaldo Cisneros, but the Mexican forward quickly vindicated his compatriot with a brace to put ATLUTD 2-0 up inside 33 minutes.

Cisneros run up some pretty impressive stats during the match, hitting the target with all three of his shots and enjoying 100% success in passing and dribbles.

1. Jhon Duran (Chicago Fire)

Jhon Duran's performance against Toronto FC might well be seen as the moment he came of age in MLS, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win for the Chicago Fire. That takes the 18-year-old to three goals and three assists in his last eight MLS appearances, only half of which have been starts.

Duran was a menace throughout, not only finishing the game within 16 minutes, but also attempting six shots, completing 100% of his passes, winning five of his nine duels, and drawing three fouls.

The Colombian is a serious talent and is only just getting started. The Fire needed this.

Honorable mentions: Lucas Zelarayan , Thiago Almada, Cristian Dajome, Facundo Torres, Gabriel Slonina, Ryan Gauld, Pedre Gallese.