Toronto FC's Victor Vazquez and Sebastian Giovinco embrace after defeating the New York Red Bulls on away goals to win the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal in Toronto on Sunday, November 5, 2017. Sebastian Giovinco, Justin Morrow and Victor Vazquez of Toronto FC, along with Kendall Waston of the Vancouver Whitecaps were named to Major League Soccer's Best XI on Thursday.The Best XI recognizes the league's top players at each position as determined by media, players and MLS staff. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch
November 30, 2017 - 7:10 PM
NEW YORK - Sebastian Giovinco, Justin Morrow and Victor Vazquez of Toronto FC, along with Kendall Waston of the Vancouver Whitecaps were named to Major League Soccer's Best XI on Thursday.
The Best XI recognizes the league's top players at each position as determined by media, players and MLS staff.
Giovinco earned the honour for the third time in as many seasons after scoring 16 goals and six assists. The Italian striker had six free kick goals during the regular season which set a new MLS single-season record.
Morrow and Vasquez earned their first Best XI selections as they helped Toronto reach the MLS Cup for a second-straight year.
Morrow scored a career-high eight goals, which led all MLS defenders. He earned player of the week honours twice and became the second player in club history to score a hat trick during league play.
Vasquez finished second in the league in assists with 16 during his first year in the MLS while adding eight goals.
Waston, Vancouver's captain, earned the honour for the second time in three years. The Costa Rican centre back was also a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year after leading the league with 104 headed clearances.
Rounding out the MLS's Best XI are goalkeeper Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City); defender Ike Opara (Sporting Kansas City); midfielders Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United) and Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers); and forwards Josef Martinez (Atlanta United), Nemanja Nikoli (Chicago Fire) and David Villa (New York City FC).
News from © The Canadian Press, 2017