Here are some of the standout players from MLS Matchday 6, as chosen by our MLS expert James Nalton, including his two North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) Player of the Matchday votes.
By James Nalton
There was a busy schedule of MLS games at the weekend as the league continues apace even during international breaks.
Many teams were missing players, which can lead to some unexpected results and new faces among the highlight reels.
One particular result caught the eye and included two of the best performances of the round.
The Top Two
9.6 FotMob rating: Lewis Morgan – New York Red Bulls
That standout result was the New York Red Bulls’ 4-0 win against the stars of Inter Miami, and the standout player in this win was hat-trick hero, Morgan.
Miami were without Lionel Messi through injury, but Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets were present.
Morgan outshone them all with three well-taken goals, accurately and coolly finished past Miami goalkeeper CJ dos Santos.
Though the most obvious aspect of Morgan’s play this weekend was his three goals, he also played a key role in the Red Bulls’ other goal on the night.
The Scotsman showed great determination to keep a loose ball in on the left wing before beating a defender and passing to Dante Vanzeir who then set up Wikelman Carmona.
The finishes were full of finesse but on a cold, soggy, rainy night in New Jersey, work rate and desire were just as important, and Morgan showed plenty of that, too.
9.4 FotMob rating: Dante Vanzeir – New York Red Bulls
All three of Morgan’s goals against Inter Miami were assisted by Belgian forward Vanzeir.
Indeed, all four of the goals the Red Bulls scored on the night were assisted by the 25-year-old.
The opener displayed a level of understanding between the two standout players that will excite Red Bulls fans as Vanzeir played a neat, flicked backheel to send Morgan in on goal.
Vanzeir didn’t even have to look where his teammate was as he knew the run Morgan would be making.
The other assists were nice, simple passes setting up Carmona, and Morgan twice more, but their weighting and placement made it easy for the recipients to find the net.
Vanzeir may not have scored a goal yet this season, but four assists in one game against the league’s team to beat more than made up for it.
“We haven’t actually played too much football together,” Morgan said of his relationship with Vanzeir.
“But I still feel we still have an amazing connection. We’re close off the field and I think that helps on the field. Today was a culmination of all that.”
Three more standout performers
9.6 FotMob rating: Denis Bouanga – LAFC
Los Angeles FC had gone three games without scoring but made up for it with a 5-0 drubbing of Nashville.
As will often be the case when LAFC put up such goalscoring numbers, Bouanga was heavily involved.
He scored a penalty in the first half to make it 2-0, emphatically finding the corner, before curling one in from the left side of the area in typical fashion to add his second and LAFC’s third.
He could have had another goal as he cut in from the left but saw his shot saved by Joe Willis at the near post, and could have had an assist when a cross found Cristian Olivera whose shot from close range was also saved by Willis.
But another goal contribution eventually came in the second half when he set up the impressive Eduard Atuesta for a diving header to make it five in added time.
Bouanga finished the game with an xG plus xA of 3.01
8.9 FotMob rating: Julián Carranza – Philadelphia Union
Union haven’t exactly set the league alight up to this point in 2024, but a 3-1 win at Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers showed they have the potential to do so.
Games like this are where a winless run turns into an unbeaten one. This first victory in MLS in 2024 means they are one of two teams in the Eastern Conference who remain unbeaten, along with FC Cincinnati.
After weathering an early storm, Union took the lead via the head of Carranza from a Kai Wagner corner.
Union rode their luck at times, and have goalkeeper Oliver Semmle to thank for keeping the Timbers to just one at the other end.
But Quinn Sullivan added a second for Jim Curtin’s side before Carranza turned in a nice cross from Mikael Uhre, who will have been pleased to contribute having missed a couple of chances himself.
8.6 FotMob rating: Dagur Dan Thórhallsson – Orlando City
Icelandic right-back Thórhallsson was a constant threat to Austin FC as Orlando secured a much-needed 2-0 win at home—their first victory of the season.
The 23-year-old had a couple of shots at goal in the first half, but his most noticeable contributions to the game came from his delivery from the right into the box
He crossed for Jack Lynn to open the scoring, finding the forward at the far post who netted his first MLS goal.
Thórhallsson created six chances in total, driving forward in the inside right channel as well as crossing from wider areas and, for good measure, was part of the Orlando back four that kept a clean sheet.
(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.