WHILE THE UNITED STATES men's national team suffered through an abysmal weekend, Major League Soccer enjoyed a terrific three-day span that featured impressive games, big-name players, emerging young prospects, big crowds, and 39 goals.

Here are some thoughts on the MLS week that was. 

Team of the Week: FC Dallas

The Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle, Toronto, and New York City FC get the lion's share of headlines thanks to their star power and high-priced designated players. That’s not surprising because in any league and in any sport, glitz and glamour gets attention.

But the best team in MLS this weekend was FC Dallas, which trounced Portland 4-1 on Saturday to tighten its grip on the Western Conference lead. While Dallas lacks high-priced talent, it does have youth to spare. Matt Hedges, 25, is young for a captain and 10 of the 14 players who saw action Saturday were under 25.

Head coach Oscar Pareja has demonstrated an eagerness to play youth and it is paying off. Pareja is also among the biggest believers in playing homegrown talent—something that should endear him to people who want to see MLS take a lead role in growing the game

“We're in an ongoing process—we're growing, we're still young,” Pareja said after the win. “Now I'm seeing a combination of that young energy and spirit that you see in the field with some maturity that we are getting into the games. The boys are certainly growing.

“I will say this over and over. I believe in the talent in America. I believe we have tremendous players in this country—they just need an opportunity. For me to see them go and perform and be part of such a great event is a pride for us. America has great players and we have to believe in that.”

The win was Dallas' fifth in a row and the team is now two points up on Vancouver with a game in hand and four points up on the Galaxy with two games in hand.

Player of the week: Kwadwo Poku

There was a lot to choose from by way of top performances but New York City FC’s Kwadwo Poku was the most impressive. Sunday's NYCFC – Orlando game featured Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Mix Diskerud, and a hat trick from Cyle Larin...but Poku stood out.

Poku had three assists in NYCFC's 5-3 win and was instrumental in the team's second-half four-goal outburst. The Ghanaian attacker arrived in the United States in 2010 where he has progressed from the NPSL to the NASL and now to MLS. He exemplifies how a young player can develop in the United States and move up the ladder within the lower leagues 

Goal of the Week: Benny Feilhaber

There were 39 goals to choose from over the weekend and many of them were impressive. But Benny Feilhaber’s 25-yard blast against Real Salt Lake was simply amazing—the swerve made it unstoppable. Feilhaber’s shot (watch at 0:58 of the video below) must have been particularly rewarding for the national team outcast.

Game of the weekend: NYCFC – Orlando

This game had everything an American fan could every expect: Big-name players like Kaka, Pirlo, and Villa; promising prospects like Larin, Poku, and Angelino; a U.S. national team favorite scoring a late goal; a national TV audience; and a vibrant, vocal crowd.

And yes—the teams combined for eight goals.

It was also a first look at the new and improved New York squad which now only awaits the debut of injured Frank Lampard. This team is going to have plenty of firepower and could very easily sneak into the playoffs.

“I’m really excited about what we’re seeing from the attacking end of the field,” New York head coach Jason Kreis said. “We have had so many dynamic moments we’re seeing around the goal creating scoring chances. That excites me.

“At the end of the day, we don’t want to be just a playoff contention team, we want to be a MLS Cup contention team."

Worst of the week: Seattle’s slide

This was a close call as Philadelphia’s poor effort in Sunday's loss to D.C. United also earned consideration, but the Union are just a bad team. The Seattle Sounders are a good team that is playing poorly. 

The Sounders' 1-0 loss to Montreal was its third straight loss by that scoreline and the team has now gone 272 minutes without scoring a goal. Yes, Clint Dempsey has been away at the Gold Cup and Obefemi Martins is injured and those are two of the best attackers in the game.

But to not score a solitary goal against Montreal, Colorado, and Chicago should sound alarm bells that Seattle’s depth is a major problem. Making matters worse, Seattle will compete in the CONCACAF Champions League starting August 5.

For all the talk over Seattle being an MLS “super club,” it might just be a paper tiger unless it acquires depth. 

Young Player of the week: Cyle Larin

Canada’s national team might be going nowhere, but for the second straight year a Canadian forward will win the league’s rookie of the year. Tesho Akindele did it last season and in 2015 Cyle Larin will win it in a landslide.

Larin scored a hat trick for the visitors Sunday and he now has nine goals on the season—an outstanding stat for a rookie.

Canada’s national team was bounced early at the Gold Cup after failing to score a single goal in the group stages. Larin and Akindele bring hope for the future.

Montreal Lands Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba is on his way to Quebec, which could change the pecking order in the Eastern Conference.

CONCACAF Champions League final notwithstanding, Montreal didn't look like an MLS Cup contender early in 2015. But the Impact have played fewer games than most, and coach Frank Klopas has done a nice job so far

By adding the Chelsea icon, Montreal suddenly seems like a real threat. It should be interesting to see where the 37-year-old striker can take his new team.

News and notes

• Dax McCarty was added to the All-Star roster— a smart move. There is a reason why the low-spending Red Bulls are having such a good season. McCarty is reminsicent of a younger version of Kyle Beckerman, minus the dreadlocks.
  
  
• Ethan Finlay scored a goal and registered an assist over the weeking, giving him seven goals and 12 assists on the year. Is it a hot streak or is he just a tremendous player? I'm thinking it's the latter. 
  
  
• Matt Hedges might be the best defender in the league so far this season. It is not just his skillset as a defender—it is his leadership as the captain of a very young team that is the best in the league right now. It is hard to believe he has just one U.S. cap.
  
  
• Average attendance for the week was an impressive 20,378. While the average attendance for the year will likely be higher, this was an important bellwether week since there were no games in Seattle, Orlando, or Portland. Instead, this week’s attendance was bolstered by nice crowds in places like Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter.