MLS Weekly - Down, not out
The "2-0 is the most dangerous lead" cliche was working hard to prove itself Saturday night. Philadelphia and Portland are flying. Messi is back on the field. Plus, who will be the new commissioner?
GOAL OF THE WEEK
Evander (FC Cincinnati) vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 82’
No matter what he’s doing, it looks casual. That must have been why goalkeeper Angus Gunn barely jumped to save this shot. On Saturday night in Cincinnati, it felt like Evander finally realized that he had to be the one to do something about the game they were trailing 2-1 late to the Quakes. He had an assist in the first half, and added one more in minute 79 before unleashing this 40-yard knuckler in the 82’. He’s done it before and he’ll do it again, but it’s always remarkable that someone would need to be tightly guarded at that range. A bit Stephen Curry-esque.
Honorable mentions:
Montreal center back Brayan Vera is probably one of two other players who can hit one from that range with the goalkeeper in the right position, and he did. Miami’s Luis Suarez chipped Columbus keeper Patrick Schulte from similar distance. And D.C. United scored the tying goal against Nashville off a Louis Monteneau scorpion assist from the ground.
WORST OF THE WEEK
Calvin Harris (Sporting Kansas City) vs. Houston Dynamo, 71’
There were a few bad giveaways that led to goals on Saturday night, but this one best represents the team it happened to. There’s no hope for Sporting Kansas City.
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME - TRIVIA
ANSWER LOCATED AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Philadelphia Union 3, Atlanta United 2
Let’s start by establishing the fact that Atlanta United is a trainwreck. But they had a 2-0 second-half lead despite a 26’ red card. After their second goal, you can see the frustration on Union striker Milan Iloski’s face (above).
Iloski was frustrated but not defeated. Shortly after, he scored a backheel flick, his eighth goal in six games. That got them close, but it wasn’t until the 96’ mark that teenager Neil Pierre tied it up with another headed goal (surprise, he’s 6’6”). Then, Ezekiel Alladoh scored a fadeaway volley from the top of the box that was barely a chance. There’s something brewing in Philadelphia right now, and Kai Wagner is responsible for a lot of it. They’re still seven points out of the final playoff spot.
FC Cincinnati 4, San Jose Earthquakes 2
After a two-hour lightning delay, this game still delivered everything you’re promised in an FC Cincinnati game: multiple goals from both teams, a late comeback, and an Evander corker.
Striker Kevin Denkey was invisible this whole game, shut down by San Jose’s lone all-star, Daniel Munie. But Evander and his wing backs in support were eventually enough to lift the home team over the unorganized Earthquakes. Cincinnati’s no. 10 now has 11 goals and 10 assists this year, the first player in the league to reach the double-digit mark in both categories.
The Quakes have some work to do defensively. They have one point in three games since the break, with both losses coming against teams with two strikers. Whenever those two strikers check back into the midfield at once, the Quakes lose all shape. Munie often steps with the striker, but their fullbacks have been caught out several times as a result. It’s how Cincy tied it up Saturday, and it’s how Orlando scored a few against them the week prior.
Chicago Fire 2, Charlotte FC 1
After two games scoreless, Chicago Fire striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice to lift his team over Charlotte FC. Philip Zinckernagel was forceful in the attack, in the most efficient way. There have been plenty of worries that Lewandowski replacing Hugo Cuypers would change this team for the worse, as the new man is not as mobile as the one they just shipped to Monterrey. But Lewandowski shelved those concerns, at least temporarily, by showing why his goalscoring ability can outweigh his defensive liability.
As for Charlotte, they need more production from their striker, Idan Toklomati, who had a great season last year filling in after Patrick Agyemang left. Pep Biel (9g, 5a) is great, but he can’t be expected to do everything if Charlotte wants to make noise in the playoffs. And new signing Allan Saint-Maximin has never been as much a goalscorer as a playmaker. We’ll see if that changes being in MLS.
CF Montreal 2, New England Revolution 2
New England jumped out to a 2-0 first-half lead and let the home fans know (above). Montreal got the last laugh, with Brayan Vera and Prince Owusu scoring in the second half to tie it up. It was Montreal’s first time scoring since May, so they walked away happily from the draw. They aren’t competing in Leagues Cup, so they’ll have two weeks to prepare for their next game.
Portland Timbers 2, Seattle Sounders 1
Portland was the better team all game, and Brandon Bye’s first goal as a Timber was enough to prove that. The Timbers are 3-1-0 since the break and have moved up to eighth in the West. Their rivals are now directly below them in the table, and they need reinforcements now. The injuries have devastated the Sounders; they have lost six straight MLS games for the first time in club history.
IN OTHER NEWS
MLS owners will vote on the league’s new commissioner today, selecting one of LAFC co-owner Larry Berg and former Fox executive David Nathanson. Don Garber has been the commissioner since 1999 and is expected to remain in the position as the transition takes place.
The owners also heard proposed changes to the league’s roster and spending rules over the All-Star break.
Lucas Herrington is off to England, joining Hull City from the Colorado Rapids for a deal of up to $23 million. The 18-year-old center back started 17 MLS games this season and played for Australia at the World Cup.
After Sebastian Berhalter reunited with another former Columbus Crew midfielder (Aidan Morris) at Middlesborough two weeks ago, Max Arfsten is now joining the party, with the Crew making $7.5 million from the sale.
It’s a big rebuild from Columbus, who lost Wessam Abou Ali for the year in April, fired their coach in May, sold Diego Rossi in July, and are now letting Arfsten go too.
ONE TO WATCH: New England Revolution vs. Houston Dynamo, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. PST
There is only only one MLS game to watch this weekend in between all the Leagues Cup action, which begins tomorrow.
So while that fact is choosing for me, this is actually a great matchup. New England are in third place in the East after a rough start to the season in which they lost their first three road games. This will be DP winger Jack Harrison’s first MLS appearance since he departed NYCFC in 2018. Carles Gil is still the best player on the field in almost every game he plays. Striker Dor Turgeman is finally finding his scoring feet, with goals in consecutive games. Their defense is solid, but the real defensive anchor is goalkeeper Matt Turner, who looks himself again after returning from England.
Houston also started the year slow, especially on the defensive side of the ball. But in their last 11 games, the Dynamo have six clean sheets. That’s not what’s getting them over the hump, though. They’re fourth in the West due to Guillherme’s dynamism and creativity, Jack McGlynn’s ball-striking ability, and Mateusz Bogusz’s awareness in half spaces. The pieces have been on their roster all season, but they seem to have worked out a lot of the kinks in the attack and are now rolling.
The Revs are 8-1-1 at home and the Dynamo are 3-1-4 on the road.
Thanks for the video links! Some amazing plays.