Our Major League Soccer expert James Nalton picks the standout players from the latest round of games in MLS, including his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday.
By James Nalton
The Top Two
9.0 FotMob rating: Evander, Portland Timbers
Portland’s attacking four of Evander, Jonathan Rodríguez, Santiago Moreno and Mora will feature regularly in this column between now and the end of the season.
The three of them combined for Portland’s first in a 4-4 draw with St. Louis as Evander fed Mora who found Rodríguez at the far post.
Mora was in the classic goal-poaching position to turn in Portland’s second but it was Evander who rose impressively to win a header at the far post for the assist.
From starting attacks in midfield to winning aerial duels in important attacking situations, Evander seems to have it all.
It was his long-range shot that could only be parried by Roman Bürki before Mora’s striking instincts were on show again as he was on hand to net the rebound.
Mora’s evening was soured when he caught a prone Chris Durkin on the head with his boot and was sent off, but this game was more evidence of Portland’s attack being one of the best in the league, and on this occasion, Evander and Mora were the leading lights.
Evander rounded off one of the most impressive performances of the matchday with a free-kick goal to level the scores for 10-man Portland in the final minutes.
9.2 FotMob rating: Brad Stuver, Austin FC
It’s always good to include a defensive player in the list of top players, and even better when it’s a goalkeeper – an often unsung position.
Stuver’s standout performance in Austin’s 2-0 win against Nashville is reflected well in his FotMob rating.
An early penalty save helped and set the tone for his evening as he recorded an important clean sheet.
Hany Mukhtar stepped up to take a penalty after referee Rosendo Mendosa had checked the video replay to confirm the spot kick, and Stuver did brilliantly to turn the shot onto the post.
Stuver was well positioned to save from Jacob Shaffelburg and went on to save a free kick with relative ease from Mukhtar later on.
Another outstanding stop came from a well-hit Brian Anunga shot, and he also came off his line to thwart Sam Surridge.
He prevented a total xG on target of 2.04 and made seven saves on the night.
Three more standout performers
9.1 FotMob rating: Luis Suárez, Inter Miami
There might have been more outstanding overall individual performances than Suárez’s this week, but few were as important to the way this league might look come the end of the season.
FC Cincinnati are one of Inter Miami’s main challengers for the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and as recently as July the defending champions handed Miami a 6-1 defeat in Ohio.
But Suárez’s two goals within six minutes at the start of this game made sure this was to be a different outcome.
There was some controversy around Suárez’s availability with some comments that his missing the All-Star game having been selected should have resulted in a suspension, but Miami stated before that exhibition match that the Uruguayan was injured, which is why there was no suspension.
That outcome can be debated, and it’s widely known Sáarez is playing through knee problems most of the time, but in making sure he was available for this big game, Miami secured a place in the playoffs and took a big step towards lifting the Supporters’ Shield.
Drake Callender in the Miami goal deserves a mention for his part in this 2-0 win, too, and the team have won seven of their last eight with Messi on the sidelines.
9.3 FotMob rating: Sebastian Lletget, FC Dallas
FC Dallas continued the good form they had shown prior to the midseason break with a win in a high-scoring game against DC United.
Lletget was involved in three of the four Dallas goals in the 4-3 victory, assisting the first with an outswinging corner volleyed in by an unmarked Nkosi Tafari at the far post.
He headed in one of his own from a similar situation from open play, in the right place at the right time to get on the end of Ruan’s cross ahead of the defence and goalkeeper.
Lletget showed great composure to assist Tsiki Ntsabeleng following a high turnover for the fourth Dallas goal. He could easily have shot but found his teammate in a better position for what turned out to be the all-important winner and secured a first away win of the season for FC Dallas.
8.9 FotMob rating: Marcel Hartel, St. Louis City
Hartel was one of the summer signings we picked out ahead of the league restarting, and he made an instant impact with two assists in the aforementioned 4-4 goal-fest against Portland.
Playing from the left wing he was also in charge of certain set pieces, taking some of the burden from Eduard Löwen, and he assisted the opener from a corner for Simon Becher.
Hartel’s second assist was also from a corner and was an inventive, lofted cross to the far edge of the area for the also-impressive Cedric Teuchert.
St, Lous couldn’t hold on for the win, but in Hartel, it looks like they have a player who will make many valuable contributions in the seasons to come.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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