Matchday three of the MLS has come to a close. Daniel Fraiz-Martinez examines the big talking points.
Lethal Larin proves the difference in battle of the sophomore sides
Patrick Viera’s second consecutive game on home soil at New York’s Yankee Stadium produced a customary NYCFC performance. It saw the typical large amounts of endeavour and potential, but short on effectiveness and results as the league’s other “sophomore” side Orlando City SC produced a wilfully efficient 1-0 victory, courtesy of a goal from reigning Rookie of the Year Cyle Larin.
Indeed Larin would certainly serve well as the poster boy as to the difference between the two sides. Less of a big name, but bigger on potential, the burgeoning 20-year-old Canadian international striker made it three in three this season (following from an impressive record setting debut MLS campaign), clinically capitalising on an error by the usually reliable City goalkeeper Josh Saunders.
With the second half being a procession of NYCFC possession, and overall they did outshoot their opponents throughout the 90 minutes, Orlando City perhaps had the most clearcut chances of the game, and the deservedness of their win could barely be contested.
Therefore it could well be back to the drawing board for Viera, whose tactical innovation has, to be fair, provided an upturn in performance. Yet he is still incapable of bringing out the best in ageing Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo, or even find a way to incorporate fan favourite Kwadwo Poku.
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Bulls up and running as third times the charm
Third time was indeed the charm as the old saying goes, as the New York Red Bulls finally got their first goals, and more importantly first win of the season on Saturday, with a 4-3 victory over the Houston Dynamo.
Having twice been behind, the Red Bulls and the Dynamo played out one of the games of the season, highlighting the current MLS dynamic at its topsy turvy best.
Early on, Jesse March’s side had showcased the qualities that had led it to the league’s Supporters Shield last time out. However, a spate of injuries (most notably to Designated Player Gonzalo Veron, who helped give his side the attacking penetration that it had so desperately missed in the first two matches) handicapped the Red Bulls greatly.
In truth the win owed more to grit, determination and perseverance more so than any real cohesive tactical structure or gameplan. And while the Red Bulls will be happy to be off the mark, there is a need for improvement in their running as the season continues to progress.
First blood in the California Clásico, as Zardes proves the brightest star in the Galaxy
The LA Galaxy grabbed a much needed boost to their season on Saturday night, with a 3-1 triumph over local rivals the San Jose Earthquakes.
Bruce Arena’s star-studded side has often been compared as North American equivalent to Florentino Perez’s Galacticos, with the analogy not exactly being used as a compliment.
Therefore it would perhaps come as little surprise that Saturday’s victory was in no small part down to a pair of goals by a homegrown player in the form of Gyassi Zardes, and after the withdrawal of one their expensively recruited stars. Steven Gerrard had been forced to withdraw from the game with injury.
The harsher reality though would also show that it took the sending off San Jose’s Simon Dawkins in first half injury time to give the Galaxy any kind of momentum in the contest. The far more modestly assembled Earthquakes gave as good as they got at the StubHub Center, spearheaded by the evergreen Chris Wondolowski in particular.
Indeed ‘Wondo’’s third goal in as many games this campaign would have ensured a more frantic finish, had the one Galaxy star who can seemingly be relied on, Robbie Keane, earned and converted a stoppage time penalty to put a considerable amount of gloss on a Clásico result that perhaps most would say was highly flattering.
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