Orlando City’s Brek Shea Wins Week Five MLS Save of the Week Honor

Major League Soccer announced the winner of its Goal of the Week award for week five on Friday, and it was not a goalkeeper who took home the honor.

Orlando City defender Brek Shea, who made a ridiculous effort to deny Chris Pontius a goal – on a rebound, following an initial stop from keeper Donovan Ricketts – won the award to end Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric’s three-week streak of superior saves.

While United keeper Bill Hamid put in a few stellar efforts of his own to keep the Lions off the score sheet and eventually escape the Citrus Bowl with a 1-0 win, he was unable to top the quality of the athletic display from City’s newly converted left back.

After Ricketts made a diving stop on Conor Doyle's effort from the top of the box, the Jamaican international shot-stopper was unable to recover in time to deal with Pontius' effort on the rebound. Just when it appeared as if United would surely score, Shea – who had smartly positioned himself in front of goal after sprinting back to defend the long ball that sparked the attack – managed to heroically stab the shot away with his left foot.

The stonewall effort from the left back allowed Ricketts just enough time to get to his feet and deflect another rebound attempt from Doyle out of bounds and quell the danger.

Following the match, Shea told the Orlando Sentinel's Paul Tenorio that the spectacular save was the least he could do, blaming himself for allowing the threat to reach such desperate heights.

"I was very relieved when I did that because I created the whole problem," Shea said. "It was my fault. Me and Donovan [Ricketts] had a miscommunication, I thought he was coming for the ball and he wasn't and I let the other guy get the ball. I'm glad I made up for my mistake."

While the loss still stings, it's good to see Shea get some recognition for an amazing effort as he continues to impress during his transition from the wing to defender.