What We Learned – MLS Matchday 19

What We Learned – MLS Matchday 19

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Outside90’s Daniel Fraiz-Martinez breaks down all the action from a packed Matchday 19 of Major League Soccer. 

The “main Maidana” proves too good for Portland…  and maybe even Philadelphia too

Saturday night’s historic first ever MLS victory for the Philadelphia Union over the Portland Timbers was, in large, due to only one player.

The Union’s 3-0 drubbing of an understrength Timbers side was orchestrated by their creator-in-chief Cristian “Chaco” Maidana, who played a vital role in all three of his side’s goals. Maidana was at his spectacular best, though in reality the Argentine has been consistently one of the league’s most effective providers since his arrival back in 2014. That is despite having to contend playing at one of the MLS’ most ineffective and struggling franchises.

At only 28 years of age, it is somewhat surprising that Maidana has not attracted the attentions of one of the league’s more successful teams. This is perhaps due to his only significant failing of not hitting the scoreboard more often.

Nonetheless, this could still end up being a season where Maidana finally makes the post-season playoffs. The Union are still in contention in the topsy-turvy Eastern Conference race despite their well-documented struggles.

Kaká-less Orlando shows its need for reinforcements

Orlando City SC would not be the first side guilty of missing Brazilian superstar Kaká, but it was indeed the last in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of a resurgent FC Dallas side.

Having chosen not to appeal a contentious red card from its previous fixture against Real Salt Lake, an already depleted Orlando side succumbed to Dallas’ dynamic duo of Fabian Catillo and Mauro Diaz.

In what has been a credible season so far, Adrian Heath’s men are beginning to exhibit the worrying signs of a team without sufficient depth to compete in the long, arduous endeavour that is an MLS season. However, respite could soon come in the form of the returning Kaká, and also his colleagues on international duty.

Although it could also come with another star addition as the club continues to chase Manchester United and Mexico star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, his first significant action in Orlando would be on a treatment table, as the player is also currently injured. Nonetheless, his signature would still prove a significant coup for both the league and the Orlando franchise, and would hold the club in good stead for seasons to come.

A rocky ride in store for Salt Lake after late horror show

With 10 minutes to go on Saturday night, Real Salt Lake looked set to claim the bragging rights over the Colorado Rapids in its Rocky Mountain Cup rivalry. However such is the fickle nature of football, Argentine forward Sebastian Jaime went from hero to villain in the space of less than five minutes, seeing his side eventually capitulate to a late 3-1 defeat.

Surprisingly, the irksome manner of Jaime’s almost absurdly petulant sending off is not necessarily Salt Lake’s biggest disappointment. An altogether familiar malaise has unfortunately set in this season, with the now very distinct possibility that Real will not make the playoffs for the first time since its resurgence under now-New York City boss Jason Kreis.

It is though perhaps indicative of the shift MLS is experiencing when one of the leagues more well run franchises experiences such hardship, with the resounding feeling being that despite an excellent crop of youngsters an astute South and Central American recruiting, more “star power” is required to abate the fast growing concerns.

Giovinco solidifies MVP claim in a Soccer Sunday game for the ages 

Soccer Sunday should be re-baptised Superstar Sunday after New York City and Toronto FC played out one of the best possible adverts the MLS could have asked for.

The superstars on show at Yankee Stadium stepped up to the plate in emphatic fashion, as David Villa and Sebastian Giovinco combined with some kamikaze defending, resulting in a entertainment-packed 4-4 draw.

What we learned? Well, aside from the fact that both sides are in desperate need of defensive improvement, is that two of the league’s MVP candidates in Villa and Sebastian Giovinco look set to continue to light up the league.

However, whilst both players proved influential along with missing penalties, Giovinco, who’s nine-minute hat-trick was the third fastest in MLS’ 20-year history, further solidified his claim for an outright hold of the league’s MVP, still unofficial at this stage, of course. Whilst Villa bagged himself a brace, Giovinco was directly involved in each of his side’s four goals, superbly creating the fourth from next to nothing, and it is precisely this type of ability to create himself a chance in an almost unstoppable fashion that perhaps differentiates the “Atomic Antfrom his nearest competitors as to the league’s best player.

An exciting thought is that both teams were capable of putting on such a show with only two of their six allotted designated players, so we can only look forward with baited breath to next time round and the additions of Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo to add further spice to an already quite spellbinding contest.

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