Our MLS expert James Nalton picks five of the standout players from Matchday 7 in Major League Soccer, including his two North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) Player of the Matchday votes.
By James Nalton
Players from MLS’s Western Conference feature heavily among the standout performances from Matchday 7.
Several teams from this side of the league have been among the best to watch in the early rounds of the 2024 MLS season, and there are plenty of players to keep an eye on.
A couple of them were the clear standout pair from this round of games.
The Top Two
9.5 FotMob rating: Djordje Mihailović – Colorado Rapids
The American midfielder was part of some impressive off-season recruitment by the Rapids, arriving as a Designated Player after a spell in Europe with AZ Alkmaar that didn’t quite pan out as hoped.
Back in MLS, he can be a difference maker for his team, and was for the Rapids in their 3-2 win against Los Angeles FC — their first home win of the season.
It was Mihailović’s inswinging corner, headed in by Moïse Bombito, that had the Rapids back on level terms for the first time.
Then when they went behind again, it was Mihailović’s free kick from the edge of the area, into the net before Hugo Lloris could even think about saving it, which evened things out once again.
His second goal and third goal contribution was to be the winner as he took up the position of a striker in the box to turn in a cross from Kimani Stewart-Baynes.
He also finished the game having created seven chances in total.
Colorado have ambitions to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference, and these are the type of performances they need from Mihailović if they are to reach those heights.
9.6 FotMob rating: Cristian Arango – Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake are another team that could challenge at the top of the Western Conference this season and showed as much when they defeated St Louis City 3-1.
All three RSL goals were scored in the last 20 minutes of the game by Colombian striker Cristian Arango.
He got off the mark with a shot fired accurately and powerfully into the corner from just outside the area.
His second was scored from the penalty spot and his hat-trick goal was well set up by Diego Luna for a fifth in total for the season so far.
RSL have only finished among the top five teams in the West once in the last eight years, but this season they are looking like a real contender.
Three more standout performers
8.9 FotMob rating: Gabriel Pec – LA Galaxy
Prior to the arrival of Joseph Paintsil, Brazilian winger Gabriel Pec was picked out as the new signing to watch for LA Galaxy in our Western Conference preview, and he showed why with a player of the match performance as his side defeated Seattle Sounders 1-0.
The 23-year-old scored the only goal of the game with less than five minutes played, firing a shot at the near post that was too hot for Sounders keeper Stefan Frei to handle.
Frei might have been disappointed to let the ball past him, but it was great play from the Galaxy in the build-up involving Riqui Puig and Paintsil, before Pec finished the move.
Pec had a pass success rate of 91% by the end of the game and had completed five dribbles.
The Galaxy sit top of the Western Conference with 13 goals, the second most across MLS after Inter Miami (14).
8.7 FotMob rating: Fafá Picault – Vancouver Whitecaps
Another Western conference side impressing early on this season are Vancouver Whitecaps.
They are just behind the Galaxy in the early table and bounced back from last week’s loss to RSL with a 3-2 win at home against Cascadia rivals Portland Timbers.
Ryan Gauld opened the scoring and then Picault extended the Whitecaps’ first-half lead to 2-0, curling one into the far corner from the left after a deflected cross rolled in his direction.
Portland brought it back to 2-2, but Picault’s persistence in the six-yard box eventually set up a chance for Ryan Raposo to score the winner.
8.7 FotMob rating: Jamal Thiaré – Atlanta United
The 31-year-old Senegalese forward scored his first goals for Atlanta United to help them to a 3-0 win at home to Chicago Fire.
Thiaré came off the bench in the 64th minute to replace Giorgios Giakoumakis who had scored the opening goal.
With his first touch in the 65th minute, Thiaré turned in Brooks Lennon’s cross to make it 2-0.
He had another goal ruled out for offside as Atlanta looked likely to score a third once Carlos Terán was sent off for the Fire.
Thiaré’s brace eventually came with a well-taken goal from close range, including a great first touch to beat a defender after Thiago Almada’s shot rebounded to him off the post.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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