To complement the FotMob team of the week, we have picked five players who stood out, for various reasons, on Matchday 17 of Major League Soccer.
Whether that be by playing a major role in securing a result for their team, or hitting the headlines as their stock continues to rise, these are five players among numerous standout performers who were especially notable in the previous round of games.
We begin with one of the form teams in the league and their most conspicuous player of the latest matchday.
By James Nalton, MLS expert
Julián Carranza (Philadelphia Union)
The month of May saw Philadelphia Union exit the Concacaf Champions League at the semi-final stage to Los Angeles FC and go out of the US Open Cup as soon as it had entered after losing on penalties to Minnesota United.
In MLS, though, Jim Curtin’s side has turned a corner, showing why despite being one of the lower-spending teams in the league, the Union is one of the best-assembled outfits and remains a contender for the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.
Carranza is the epitome of this. Picked up from a troubled Inter Miami side initially on loan in 2022, the 23-year-old Argentine soon signed permanently and has seven goals and two assists as the Union has gone on a run of nine games unbeaten in MLS.
He attempted nine shots in his team’s most recent game against CF Montreal, scoring twice. The second took a few deflections on its way in, and he should probably have had a hat-trick given the chances that came his way, but it was his shot that also led to the game’s other goal for Mikael Uhre.
The Union has seven wins and two draws in that nine-game unbeaten run and in Carranza, Uhre, and Daniel Gazdag, boast one of the most feared attacking lineups in the league and with nine goals in MLS in 2023, Carranza leads the way.
Daniel (San Jose Earthquakes)
Brazilian goalkeeper Daniel pulled off two outstanding saves to make sure the Earthquakes avoided defeat to a Colorado Rapids side languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference.
A first-half save from a close-range Cole Bassett header that had a post-shot xG of 0.70 was a highlight, showing excellent concentration, positioning, and reaction speed to tip it wide.
At the start of the second half, Daniel was down well to save a long-range effort from Bryan Acosta that looked like it might have been deflected on its way through, making it more difficult.
He went on to save a penalty later in the half, diving to his left to stop Connor Ronan’s effort from 12 yards. It added to his highlight reel but more importantly, meant his team weren’t embarrassed by a Colorado side that went down to ten men in the second half.
When San Jose needed him, didn’t Daniel deliver, with his second standout performance in as many games.
Christian Ramirez (Columbus Crew)
Four Columbus Crew players were among the best of the Matchday per FotMob ratings. Lucas Zelarayán registered an assist as part of six chances created, while Cucho Hernández and Max Arfsten both notched a goal and an assist each in a 4-2 win against Charlotte.
The standout of the four was Ramirez who netted two goals as well as an assist for Arfsten (even though the American still had plenty to do to get his name on the scoresheet).
It remained a team effort, though, and the pick of the goals was Zelarayan’s scooped pass over the Charlotte defence to Hernandez who showed skill and bravery to finish.
Wilfried Nancy moved to Columbus from Montreal at the end of last season and has since shown why the Ohio team made the move for the French head coach.
The Crew has the highest average possession in MLS and has scored the most goals. If it can tighten up at the back, the team could become a Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup contender.
Iván Angulo (Orlando)
Facundo Torres took the headlines after scoring twice in Orlando City’s 3-0 win at New York Red Bulls, but Colombian attacking midfielder Angulo was arguably Orlando’s best player on the night.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring when it was still 11 v 11 (Andres Reyes was sent off early in the second half for New York) having the confidence to finish one-on-one against Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel and the awareness to realise the teammates to his left may have been offside had he passed.
He also added an assist to his night’s work, sprinting half the length of the field past Frankie Amaya in what was an impressive show of speed. This time he squared for Torres who slotted past Coronel for his second.
Djordje Petrović (New England Revolution)
The Serbian stopper’s stock continues to rise thanks to two high-profile saves against New York City in the Bronx.
Gabriel Pereira’s long-range effort from outside the area may have been taken from a low xG position on the field, but the post-shot xG was 0.53 and required a wonderful save at full stretch from the 23-year-old.
It was the type of shot many goalkeepers will just watch and hope drifts wide or over, or dive late and not get anywhere near, but Petrović was well positioned and then athletic enough to get his fingertips to it to tip it over.
Petrović saved again from Pereira in the second half from closer range. It was similar to a stop he made in the first half from Santi Rodriguez who turned out to be offside, but neither player knew that until after the play had ended.
Petrović is being monitored by several European clubs. Both Manchester United and Liverpool have been linked via the transfer rumour mill, but they aren’t the only sides keeping an eye on the Serbian.
Matt Turner’s impressive performances in New England earned him a move to Arsenal, but in Petrović Bruce Arena’s side has found a replacement who is arguably better than the man he replaced. They might have to find another replacement soon.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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