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
9.1 FotMob rating: Cedric Teuchert, St Louis City
German attacker Teuchert has been in great form for St. Louis since joining in the summer transfer window.
His goal in a 3-1 win against Sporting KC this weekend, curled into the corner from outside the area, means he now has five goals in seven appearances for his new club in MLS.
On top of this, he added two assists, crossing for Rasmus Alm to score St. Louis’ second before driving forward and crossing for Eduard Löwen who added a third.
Last season’s Western Conference league leaders can no longer make the playoffs this time around after a disappointing season, but in Teuchert they have a player who will give them belief they can bounce back next year.
Even though he’s only a recent addition to the league, he’s still been one of the best transfers of the season so far.
9.1 FotMob rating: Cucho Hernández, Columbus Crew
Two moments of brilliance from Cucho led to two goals for Columbus Crew against DC United, but it wasn’t enough to claim the win as the league’s top scorer Christian Benteke also got in on the act.
Cucho’s goal was hit from outside the area, lofted over DC goalkeeper Alex Bono who had the temerity to be ever so slightly off his line when the Colombian received the ball.
Cucho spotted this and lifted the ball perfectly into the gap behind Bono, dipping his shot under the bar and into the goal.
His assist for Jacen Russell-Rowe was equally pinpoint, crossed from deep on the right wing, Trent Alexander-Arnold style.
Cucho has a bit of everything in his locker and showed it with another display of quality despite his team only managing a 2-2 draw.
It’s this kind of consistency that marks the former Watford man out as one of the best players in MLS, and Columbus will be hoping he can make a difference when they face league leaders Inter Miami on Wednesday.
Three more standout performers
8.8 FotMob rating: Tayvon Gray, New York City
Gray has quietly become one of the most creative full-backs in MLS, and he showed this again with a great assist in New York City’s memorable 5-1 Hudson Rover Derby win against the Red Bulls this weekend.
It might not be expected of a defender who has always been in the centre-back/full-back mould, rather than a traditional attacking full-back/wing-back, but this season he has cemented himself as a creative force.
He’s beginning to change the perception of what his game is about.
No defender with more than 800 minutes played in MLS this season has more assists per 90’ than Gray, not even the likes of Jordi Alba or Kai Wagner.
On top of the assist, crossed to the far post for Andrea Perea to head home, he rifled in a goal of his own, hit first-time from outside the area with his weaker left foot, curling into the bottom corner.
9.2 FotMob rating: Josef Martínez, Montréal Impact
Montréal continue to edge their way up the Eastern Conference standings.
They made it three wins and a draw in their last four games after defeating San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 in this latest victory.
Martínez bustled his way into space at a corner to open the scoring with a header. His movement and positioning was excellent, especially for his second goal.
He held his position as San Jose’s defensive line retreated, opening up the space for Caden Clark to find him with a cross back to the edge of the area. Martínez finished first-time into the corner.
The Venezuelan ended the game having also created four chances, and he might have felt he should have had more goals, given how often he got into good shooting positions.
9.0 FotMob rating: Alonso Martínez, New York City
Costa Rican attacker Martínez has proved the unlikely solution to New York City’s striker problem.
Having tried to use Designated Players Talles Magno and Mounsef Bakrar to solve the goalscoring issue, NYCFC found the solution in a player who was originally signed from fellow City Football Group side Lommel SK of Belgium to add squad depth.
Despite having played mostly as a winger before moving to MLS, he has emerged as one of the best finishers in the league from the centre-forward position.
Only Lionel Messi has a better goals per 90’ record, and Martínez continued his impressive form with two well-taken finishes in the 5-1 win against the Red Bulls.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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