Outside90’s Daniel Fraiz-Martinez breaks down all the biggest talking points to come from the latest round of Major League Soccer action.
Wonderful Wondo’ continues his rise up the record books
The memorable moment(s) of MLS matchday six was undoubtedly the goal scoring exploits from one the league’s all time most effective finishers, not to mention one of it’s most heartening stories – Chris Wondolowski.
Wondolowski’s strikes, the first in a 2-0 winning effort over the New York red Bulls and the second of which came in his side the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 defeat to the Portland Timbers, where his 114th and 115th respective goals, taking the emblematic forward up to sole position as the MLS’ fourth all time scorer since its inception.
The California native, much like Messrs Ibrahimovic, Aduriz and company, has matured much like a fine wine since arriving in the competitions, and has thrived as a talismanic captain in his hometown side.
Having not scored at all, many had already hastily begun predicting his demise. However, the ‘Wonderful Wondo’ and teammates may well continue to silence the critics en route to an unlikely post-season qualification, and further celebration for the sporting faithful in the Bay Area.
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Trading Places: Rapids on the up, Red Bulls continue to plummet
What a difference (nearly) a year makes. At this time in 2015 the New York Red Bulls where considered one of MLS’ best sides, and the Colorado Rapids where teetering well towards the other extreme.
Therefore Saturday nights gruelling 2-1 victory by the Rapids over the Red Bulls (their second defeat of the gameweek) perhaps acted as the most effective way of highlighting both team’s reversals in fortunes.
The New Yorkers are Plummeting within a profound crisis of confidence, notwithstanding the personnel which looked a shadow of the side that impressed last term. This, despite the mitigating atrocious weather conditions up in the Rocky mountains.
The Rapids, on the other hand, continued to highlight their considerable progress made. With new signing, the often divisive US international Jermaine Jones, grabbing his first for the club to cap off an impressive few days that saw them also defeat the always imposing Sporting Kansas City.
With the season only in its infancy, the stuttering Red Bulls will hope that this trading places scenario is only temporary. But such is the altogether unpredictable nature of the league, their may well be a few changes before both teams fortunes are ultimately decided.
Drogba returns, but “Prince” Piatti has the biggest Impact
Having missed much of the season through a combination of injury and selective unavailability. Didier Drogba was likely keen on making up for lost time, taking just six minutes to make an almost instant contribution off the bench with an impudent equalising goal on the way to earning his side their second straight victory.
Drogba, baptised by many as the ‘King’, was somewhat overshadowed by the Montreal Impact’s most effective performer this campaign, Argentine (fellow DP) Ignacio Piatti, whose stoppage time strike was not only one of the goals of the week, but also the one that ultimately gave his side all three points.
If the ex-Chelsea legend is indeed the King, then the Prince is certainly in danger of abdicating him on the basis of their recent contributions at the very least. Albeit, fans of the Impact, and indeed the league certainly will not mind if the “Game of Thrones” type battle continues to play out in such spectacular footballing fashion.
All the stars come out to play in Week six
Drogba, Giovani Dos Santos, Steven Gerrard, Sebastian Giovinco, Kaká, David Villa…pretty much all the available MLS Stars made either scoring or assisting contribution this week, with the league seemingly steadily moving in to gear with six (or more) rounds completed.
In fact is was probably harder to find big name players who did not perform this week (looking squarely at Mr Pirlo) than ones who did not, such was the goal-scoring frenzy in yet another entertainment packed MLS week.
Indeed the main question at the moment, and unlike last year with a dominant Giovinco at around this time already, is who will be the leagues most likely candidates for the season ending MVP award. Such has been the parity, it is still anyone’s guess at this stage.
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