Our Major League Soccer expert James Nalton explains his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday and picks out three more standout players from the latest round of action.
By James Nalton
The Top Two
9.5 FotMob rating: Federico Redondo, Inter Miami
It was an outstanding all-round performance from 22-year-old Redondo in the absence of Inter Miami’s star players Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets.
His assist for the opening goal showed great vision, lofting a ball over the Toronto defence into the path of Diego Gómez.
He scored a header at the far post from a free-kick crossed in by Julian Gressel and then turned one in on the edge of the six-yard box from Gómez’s pull-back.
Inter Miami ran out 3-1 winners, and Redondo – son of former Madrid midfielder and Argentina international Fernando – was the star.
He completed 92% of his passes, had 81 touches, won four tackles and made three interceptions.
9.7 FotMob rating: Tai Baribo, Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union haven’t featured much in this column this season because, in short, they haven’t been very good.
The usually competitive Union sat bottom of the Eastern Conference going into this game, but there was still plenty of attention on them this week.
That’s because the highly-rated 14-year-old Cavan Sullivan was set to feature in the first-team squad, potentially making his debut and becoming the youngest-ever MLS player, taking the record Freddy Adu has held since 2004.
And Sullivan did come off the bench to make his debut aged 14 years and 293 days, breaking Adu’s record by 13 days, but this game was also a much-needed Union win, 5-1 against New England, led by forward Baribo.
His striking instincts saw him turn in the opener inside the six-yard box at a set-piece routine, and he was then on hand to finish well from Mikael Uhre’s cutback for a second.
His hat-trick goal was a well-hit first-time finish across the ball from a typically great delivery from Kai Wagner, who also stood out.
The comfortable lead allowed Sullivan to enter the field with no pressure and take Adu’s record.
The goal scored by his older brother, Quinn, was the best of the game, and the younger sibling did not look out of place once in the action, nor in his post-match interview.
Three more standout performers
8.7 FotMob rating: Chris Brady, Chicago Fire
FC Cincinnati have stumbled in recent weeks in their quest to defend their Supporters’ Shield crown, and their latest attempt to keep pace with Inter Miami and Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference saw them thwarted by an excellent performance from the Chicago Fire goalkeeper.
He made seven saves in total, preventing an xG of 1.15, including stops from Luca Orellano, Aaron Boupendza, and Yamil Asad.
At the other end, on the back of Brady’s work, Brian Gutiérrez gave Chicago the 1-0 win after great work from Hugo Cuypers.
9.4 FotMob rating: Christian Benteke, DC United
Benteke hasn’t been his usual goal-getting self in recent weeks. He had only scored once in DC United’s last eight games, something that wasn’t helped by the fact he was suspended for two of them.
But he was back in the groove against Minnesota United, scoring two goals and assisting another.
Benteke is the clear focal point for this team and took advantage of some poor Minnesota defending to charge through and score the opener.
Minnesota were 2-1 up as the 90th minute approached, but Benteke headed the ball across goal from a corner for Aaron Herrera to score the equaliser and then scored the winner himself, picking up on a Lucas Bartlet header from a free kick.
It was a typically aerially dominant display from the Belgian to go along with his goals, winning 14 aerial duels on the night.
8.9 FotMob rating: Gabriel Pec, LA Galaxy
The Big FotMob 2024 MLS preview picked out Pec as one of the new signings to watch in the league this season.
His regular appearances among the top players of the week have backed up this suggestion, and he was once again in top form for LA Galaxy as they returned to winning ways, defeating fellow Western Conference contenders Colorado Rapids 3-2.
A delicate chip across the field found Diego Fagúndez in acres of space to give his side the lead, and a surging run down the right ended with a cross for Joseph Paintsil to tap in.
Paintsil and Riqui Puig also stood out, but Pec finished the game having created four chances, completed four dribbles, and 91% of his passes attempted as the performance and the win saw LA Galaxy return to the top of the Western Conference.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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