SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes forward Benji Kikanovic and defender Nathan have been selected to Major League Soccer’s Team of the Week for Week 31 after leading the Quakes to a 4-0 win over Austin FC on Wednesday.
Kikanovic, 21, scored his third goal of the season to give San Jose a 2-0 lead in the 53rd minute. Additionally, while not credited with an assist, Kikanovic also forced the turnover and played the pass that led to Chofis’ game-winning goal six minutes earlier. It marks Kikanovic’s first Team of the Week selection in his debut season with the club.
Nathan, 26, started and played all 90 minutes in the victory, anchoring San Jose’s defense en route to the team’s fifth shutout of 2021. Nathan also contributed offensively with three shots and completed 87.5% of his passes, second best on the team. Nathan has now received three Team of the Week selections since joining the Quakes in the summer.
 TEAM OF THE WEEK FOR WEEK 31
Forward: Cristian Arango (LAFC), Adam Buksa (NE), Robert Beric (CHI)
Midfielder: Leo Chu (SEA), Emanuel Reynoso (MIN), Hany Mukhtar (NSH), Deiber Caicedo (VAN)
Defender: Christian Makoun (MIA), Rudy Camacho (MTL), Nathan (SJ)
Goalkeeper: Jonathan Bond (LA)
Coach: Vanni Sartini (VAN)
Bench: Matt Turner (NE), Danny Wilson (COL), Marcelino Moreno (ATL), Franco Fragapane (MIN), Benji Kikanovic (SJ), Daniel Gazdag (PHI), Kevin Cabral (LA)