Outside90’s Daniel Fraiz-Martinez breaks down all the action from a packed Matchday 20 of Major League Soccer.
Miazga’s Red Bulls may well challenge for Eastern honours
The renowned volatile nature of MLS, and in particular this season’s Eastern Conference means that a team can go from also-rans to Conference contenders (and of course vice-versa) in in the space of a couple of matchdays. This highlighted by New York Red Bulls, who after their 2-0 victory over Orlando City SC on Saturday night, now sit within touching distance of leaders DC United.
The Red Bulls who have endured a tumultuous off-season and middle part of their campaign, have regained their early season form.
Arguably no player has been more impressive and crucial to the team’s resurgence than homegrown central defender Matt Miazga. With the benefit of hindsight many have now begun to attribute Jesse Marsch’s side’s mid-season downfalls to youngster Miazga’s departure to represent the US at the U-20 World Cup.
A tall, athletic centre-back, Miazga’s anticipation and reading of the game has improved considerably this campaign, with his distribution from the back being one of the key factors that allows his side to press effectively. At just 20, the young Miazga may well find himself fast-tracked into the senior international side before to long.
In the meantime however, the Red Bulls staff, players and fans alike will be hoping their homegrown standout will keep his feet firmly on the floor, and his head only in the clouds when it comes to scoring winning goals, and clearances of course.
“All-Star” Castillo proves he a FCDallas are the real deal
Named as the youngster MLS All-Star for the class of 2015, a stoppage time winner and three points that take your side to top of the Supporters Shield standings – Fabian Castillo could hardly have asked for more from a memorable Saturday night.
The Colombian livewire has long been regarded as one of the league’s outstanding prospects. However, at the age of 23 has now begun to add much-need consistency to his game.
Castillo, along with Argentine Mauro Diaz, has been the star for a youthful FC Dallas side – one that many fancy to upset the league status quo.
Saturday night’s crucial late victory over stuttering DC United, propelled Oscar Pareja’s side above the side from the capital into first place in the Supporters Shield. Although there are still more than a dozen games left to play, Castillo and his teammates may well fancy their chances of staying top dog.
Next up however, will be the difficult task of taking on Caleb Porter’s Portland Timbers, followed by Castillo and colleagues facing the Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur on the 29th of this month. It may well be a game brings the name Fabian Castillo to an even greater audience.
Giovinco and Feilhaber can’t stop, won’t stop!
Sebastian Giovinco is red hot. The diminutive Italian forward once again almost singlehandedly inspired his team to a comfortable three points on Saturday night. The “Atomic Ant” creating the first, and sweeping up a rebound from his own shot to add the second.
Giovinco’s goal, while highlighting some less than impressive Philadelphia Union defending, perhaps also served as an accurate microcosm of the Italian’s influence this season, with many believing there is nothing the unstoppable TFC forward can’t do.
Over in Kansas City, arguably Giovinco’s most consistent challenger for an eventual league MVP crown was at it once again. A lower media profile has perhaps kept Sporting Kansas City’s Benny Feilhaber out of the spotlight. But the Brazilian born, US international’s influence this term has not been far from his Italian counterpart.
Feilhaber also helped himself to a goal, while creating another for English forward Dom Dwyer. Although Montreal’s captain and designated player in chief Ignacio Piatti helped end a 350 plus minute shutout streak, Sporting never really looked in doubt to claim all three points.
The Kansas City playmaker has taken his game to the next level, drawing comparisons with the influence that Lee Nguyen had for New England Revolution last season. The fans at the “Blue Hell” will no doubt be hoping that Feilhaber’s form will help take them one step further come season’s end.
Joyous Gerrard may end up posing Arena some difficult questions
Unless you are on of the small minority living under a rock somewhere, you would not have missed the fact the Steven Gerrard made his MLS debut for new club the LA Galaxy, Friday night at the StubHub Center.
Equally at this point you would be aware that inspired by Gerrard, and to a greater extent the reigning league MVP Robbie Keane, the Galaxy recovered from an early two-goal deficit to hammer the San Jose Earthquakes 5-2 in the latest instalment of the “Cali Clasico”.
However the result, and indeed the performance from Gerrard himself, may leave LA boss Bruce Arena with a few difficult questions in the coming weeks ahead as his squad begins to reassemble. The theory that Gerrard would play in an attacking central midfield position may well still come true, however Friday night’s performance saw the former Liverpool captain play just behind teammate Keane – the two linking up to devastating effect. However, with the imminent arrival of yet another all-star signing in the form of Mexican international Giovanni Dos Santos, it would seem unlikely that Gerrard would get a consistent run in the side in this position.
Nonetheless, the jigsaw puzzle that is the Galaxy starting XI will not prove as simple for Arena as shunting Gerrard back into midfield alongside either of the Brazilian duo of Juninho or Leonardo. As the return from international duty of homegrown standout Gyassi Zardes and the hugely impressive form of recent acquisition Sebastian Lletget will leave the Galaxy boss with a conundrum as to who will make way, and indeed if he can accommodate so many players with a noted attacking flair.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
