MLS expert James Nalton picks two standout performers based on his votes in the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) Player of the Week awards and picks out a few more of this week’s contenders.
By James Nalton
Inter Miami and Columbus Crew continue to be the headline makers in MLS and there were some standout individual performances in Matchday 5 to go along with their latest victories.
These two teams are joined at the top end of the early Supporters’ Shield standings in 2024 by Minnesota United, for whom former Manchester United coach Eric Ramsay took charge of his first game on Saturday night, a 2-0 win against LAFC.
If theiy continue in this vein, no doubt Minnesota players will feature here in the future, but for now here are the individual players who stood out in the latest round of MLS play.
The Top Two
8.8 FotMob rating: Joseph Paintsil – LA Galaxy
Painstil entertained the LA Galaxy crowd in Carson with an electric display on the right wing in a 3-3 draw with St. Louis City.
The Ghanaian used his pace down the flank to regularly push his team into dangerous positions, and in truth, they should have had even more goals from these attacking bursts.
He created four chances for his teammates, finishing the game with an expected assists (xA) score of 0.76.
He and his team were unlucky that none of those chances resulted in goals, and Roman Bürki made some good saves in the St. Louis goal.
Paintsil did manage to score one of his own, though, zooming in behind St. Louis full-back Anthony Markanich to get on the end of Mark Delgado’s pass before shooting past Bürki into the corner.
It was the highlight of a great performance that marked Paintsil out as one of the players to watch in this league and showed why the Galaxy made him a Designated Player signing for 2024.
8.6 FotMob rating: Luis Suárez – Inter Miami
With Lionel Messi out injured and Suárez on the bench, it was left to Ecuadorian forward Leonardo Campana (FotMob rating 9.0) to lead the line for Inter Miami.
Campana performed admirably, scoring the equaliser for Miami in DC after Jared Stroud had given the home side the lead. He also makes our TOTW by virtue of his higher match rating.
But it was Suárez’s contribution off the bench that truly turned a draw into a win.
His first of two goals in a 30-minute sub appearance was turned in at the far post following a nice cross from Campana.
The second was scored after it looked like the chance had gone, audaciously chipped over DC United goalkeeper Alex Bono from just inside the area with his weaker left foot.
United were unlucky not to get a penalty when Sergio Busquets clearly stopped Cristian Dájome getting a header on goal by pulling his shirt.
The absence of MLS referees due to being locked out by their employers, the Professional Referees Organization and MLS, continues to be an issue.
But this game once again showed that Suárez, in moments of genius, can singlehandedly change games in this league.
Three more standout performers
8.8 FotMob Rating: Aidan Morris – Columbus Crew
It was the Cucho Hernández show again for the reigning MLS Cup champions as the Colombian scored one goal and assisted another in a 3-0 win against the New York Red Bulls.
But it was also the Aidan Morris show. The American midfielder contributed greatly to this convincing victory with his passing and his work out of possession in midfield.
Morris finished the game having completed 59 of his 63 attempted passes for a success rate of 94%. Not bad against a team that likes to press.
He completed three out of three dribbles attempted, won 12 duels, and made seven recoveries.
It was his pressure in midfield that led to the second goal, scored by Jacen Russell-Rowe from Cucho’s pass.
Morris rounded off his display with a goal of his own, being in the right place at the right time at the far post from a corner.
8.6 FotMob rating: Luciano Acosta – FC Cincinnati
Like Suárez, Acosta was able to come off the bench in the second half of a game and make the difference for his team.
Having been subbed on at halftime, last season’s MLS MVP scored one goal and assisted another to give Cincy a 2-1 win against a struggling New England Revolution side.
His first contribution came straight from the second-half kick-off.
He drove forward into space before laying the ball off to fellow halftime substitute Luca Orellano who find the net with just 27 seconds of the half played, but it was called back for offside.
The opening goal eventually came when an Acosta corner made its way to Yuya Kubo at the far post, before the Argentine scored what was to be the game-winner from a powerfully hit, low free-kick.
A game-changing performance.
9.1 FotMob rating: Matías Cóccaro – Montréal
There were a number of good performances from forwards in MLS this week, with Giorgos Giakoumakis of Atlanta and Vancouver’s Brian White also making handy contributions.
Though both of Coccaro’s goals came from the penalty spot, and his team ended up losing 4-3 to Chicago Fire, his performance still deserves highlighting.
He won both of those penalties himself, drawing fouls in the box before rising to his feet to dispatch both spot kicks.
They were unlucky penalties to give away from a Chicago point of view, but Cóccaro positioned himself well to bait the foul on both occasions.
Montréal eventually lost the game, conceding twice in added time, including a freak goal from inside his own half from Kellyn Acosta, assisted by the wind of the Windy City (FotMob rating 8.5).
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
You can follow every match from MLS live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.