Major League Soccer expert James Nalton picks out five of the best players from the latest round of action and explains his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday.
By James Nalton
The Top Two
9.6 FotMob rating: Cucho Hernández, Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew put last week’s disappointing loss to a Messi-less Inter Miami behind them with a convincing 4-0 win against Sporting Kansas City.
It means the Crew have now won five of their last six games in the league. They are once again in a good position in the Eastern Conference, with three games in hand on three of the four teams above them.
This was an emotional final game in a Crew shirt for Aidan Morris, who moves to Middlesbrough this summer, but the standout player in this win was Cucho.
For his first goal of an impressive hat-trick, he took two defenders out with one feint before shooting left-footed into the bottom corner.
Next, a right-footed first-time finish from a Morris cross, in the right place at the right time at the back post.
The hat-trick goal came from a free-kick rifled into the bottom corner — a fitting way to round off the standout performance of the round.
9.5 FotMob rating: Mateusz Bogusz, Los Angeles FC
A four-goal first half helped LAFC to a 6-2 win against San Jose Earthquakes in a California derby goal-fest.
Denis Bouanga was one of the standout players for LAFC, as is often the case, but he was not the best player on the field.
That accolade goes to Bogusz, who is one of my picks for Player of the Matchday this week thanks to two goals and an assist in this dismantling of the Earthquakes.
He opened the scoring with a brave header from Sergi Palencia’s cross, and assisted Kei Kamara’s 146th MLS goal which saw the striker pass Landon Donovan in the MLS all-time scoring charts.
Bogusz added his second goal early in the second half, finishing well with a first-time shot from Bouanga’s cross. It wasn’t as easy as he made it look.
The win took LAFC to the top of the Western Conference for the first time this season. After a shaky start, they have now resumed their role as one of the strongest sides in the league.
Three more standout performers
9.7 FotMob rating: Sebastian Ferreira, Houston Dynamo
The second hat-trick hero to feature among this week’s standout players, Dynamo forward Ferreira helped his team to a 4-1 win at DC United.
DC ended this game with just nine men on the field following a couple of red cards, but by the time of the first sending-off, Ferreira had already scored twice.
He slotted one home from the penalty spot before two more calm finishes from inside the penalty area gave him the hat-trick on the night.
It was also the Dynamo’s first win in four games, having drawn each of their last three 2-2, and a welcome win for their coach Ben Olsen back at the home of his former club.
8.9 FotMob rating: Djordje Mihailović, Colorado Rapids
Mihailović features in the list of standout players for the second matchday in a row.
On the back of his hat-trick in a 3-0 win against St. Louis City last week, the American attacking midfielder was once again instrumental for the Rapids as they defeated CF Montreal 4-1.
He scored one, assisted another, and finished the game with six key passes and an xG + xA of 1.89.
Whether it’s set-piece delivery, such as the cross from a free-kick that led to the first goal for Calvin Harris, or defence-splitting through-balls such as the one for Harris’s second, Mihailović can create from any situation.
A penalty to add a third goal for the Rapids rounded off the No. 10’s performance.
8.9 FotMob rating: Patrick Agyemang, Charlotte FC
The Charlotte FC forward was one of several players who scored twice to help their team to a victory in this round.
He makes our list ahead of those other notable goalscoring performances from Orlando’s Facundo Torres, New England’s Giacomo Vrioni, and Jordan Morris of Seattle Sounders.
Agyemang’s powerful header from an awkward angle from Jere Uronen’s cross opened the scoring for Charlotte in a 2-0 win at a struggling Philadelphia Union side.
He added his and his side’s second with a great bit of play to bamboozle Union defender Jacob Glesnes and then fire a shot inside the near post.
The brace marked the first time in eight games Agyemang had found the net, making it a much-needed and welcome brace.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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