Tesho Akindele
Akindele made his eighth-straight start for Dallas in their 2-0 win over New England on Saturday – it was his ninth start and twelfth appearance of the season.
Up top alongside Blas Perez, Akindele was a handful for the faltering Revolution all night long.
Prior to the match Dallas coach, Oscar Pareja, commented on his striking duo, “That chemistry is working very well. They're finding each other and they're working for each other very well. That combination is a good example of the chemistry they've developed throughout the season. They seem very natural in their movement and they're getting options. It's good to see that chemistry develop the way it has.”
It did not take long for that threat to materialize with Akindele attacking down the left-side from a Moises Hernandez ball down the touch-line, taking on Stephen McCarthy before finding teammate, Andres Escobar, whose shot was parried by Bobby Shuttleworth – all three of his shots on the night would hit the target.
Such probing would pay dividends in the 28th minute when Akindele
He definitely forced a save out of Shuttleworth in the 62nd minute, right-footing a squared ball from Je-Vaughan Watson, nearly catching the Revolution keeper off-balance and showed very good strength on a pair of ensuing plays, holding off several defenders after pouncing on a ball in the box – he tried to turn around the outside, but could not get off a good shot or cross, and forcing a foul out of Chris Tierney as he drove towards the end-line – Tierney was booked for his troubles.
The Calgary, Alberta-native would seal the result in the 91st minute, collecting a ball from Victor Ulloa in plenty of space down the right-channel, taking on and blowing past Andrew Farrell, before
Feeling good, Akindele nearly helped treble Dallas’ advantage in the 93rd, exhibiting some nice interplay, good awareness to stay onside, and unselfishness in setting up a Mauro Diaz drive that required an excellent stop from Shuttleworth.
Post-match he commented on a variety of subjects, namely his goal: “Victor got the ball and I just saw Farrell isolated. I took off and Victor found me with the ball. It was a nice pass and I just knew I could take him one-on-one with speed.”
On gaining confidence: “Confidence is everything. We’re all here because we are good players but the thing that separates the people who are playing from the people who are not playing is just the belief in ourselves. I’m starting to believe in myself more and more every match and it’s paying off.”
And on Dallas’ form: “Truthfully, we were playing well, even when we were losing. Now, things are just clicking a little more. We’re finishing our chances – ones that we were missing earlier in the year. There is not much difference in our play – we’re still working hard, just like we were. We’re just getting the little details right now. We’re finishing our chances and not losing concentration on defense.”
Nobody is within grasp (yet) of Chicago’s Harrison Shipp when discussing rookie of the year consideration, but Akindele deserves to be in the conversation.
Russell Teibert
Teibert returned to Vancouver’s starting lineup for the first time in three matches in Wednesday night’s encounter in Toronto – it was his tenth start and fifteenth appearance of the season.
Playing on the left-side of a midfield diamond, Teibert was his usual active self, and unlike most of his matches this season, he was free to push forward without the defensive duties of a central, holding role.
As such he was causing all sorts of trouble with lively runs, swapping flanks with Nigel Reo-Coker on occasion, and darting in-field to get involved in the Whitecaps build-up. But it was on one of his wide moves that he caused the most difficulty for TFC.
In the 50th minute,
Teibert did have one very poor giveaway, allowing Dominic Oduro to intercept his pass, though he made amends quickly, pulling down Oduro to prevent a quick transition, drawing a yellow card – his second of the year.
He would make way for Kekuta Manneh in the 82nd minute.
Mattocks, when asked about his goal, pointed at Teibert, “I mean, it was a fantastic pass. I think Russell deserves all the credit for that goal and the build-up play by the team. I mean, for him to pick out a pass like that it it’s really amazing.”
He
Last week, Teibert’s continued development was rewarded with a contract extension.
Will Johnson
Johnson resumed his midfield general’s role for Portland in their 2-1 win over Colorado on Friday – it was his twentieth consecutive start for the Timbers this season.
At home and in desperate need of kick-starting surge to the post-season, Johnson was unshackled for once, pressing rather than sitting, allowed to use his anticipation to make things happen. It will be worth watching whether the addition of Liam Ridgewell, who made his debut against Colorado to shore up the porous back-line, will allow Johnson more freedom for the rest of the campaign.
Allowed to get forward, Johnson did just that, making one alert run into the box on a Diego Valeri free-kick, just in case a rebound made itself available – it did not, before springing Fanendo Adi with a long-ball and hustling up-field to insert himself back into the play – his headed attempt to find the big striker on the follow up was slightly over-hit however.
It was the Toronto-born midfield who made the penultimate pass in Portland’s 72nd minute equalizer, f
Even though he was allowed to concentrate more on the forward aspects of the game, he still racked up some twelve recoveries, three interceptions, and a pair of tackles.
He
Sam Adekugbe
Adekugbe made his first appearance of the season, starting for Vancouver in their 1-1 draw against TFC on Wednesday.
From the left-back position, the nineteen-year old was very solid, forcing a turnover that led to an early Darren Mattocks shot, involving himself in the buildup as much as prudent, and doing well to keep a lid on first, Jonathan Osorio, then Dominic Oduro.
Oduro’s pace in particular will cause most defenders trouble, but Adekugbe did well to stay with the speedster, though he did see a yellow for a wild lunge that hacked down the TFC attacker – it was his first yellow card in MLS.
He was nearly exposed in the final seconds, beat by Gilberto on a header, but it sailed over the bar – Adekugbe would cramp up from an awkward landing, requiring treatment.
The second-year defender, who was signed to a homegrown contract last August, was understandably a little conservative, part of the reason that he misplaced just two passes all night.
Doneil Henry
Henry made his ninth and tenth starts of the season for Toronto in their two-game week, earning draws against both Vancouver (1-1) and Houston (2-2).
Without the services of club captain, Steven Caldwell, Henry was called upon to do more, though he had an experienced veteran alongside him in the form of converted midfielder Bradley Orr.
Defensively Henry was immense, racking up ten recoveries, eight clearances, five interceptions, and three tackles, stripping Erik Hurtado on one occasion, exhibiting some blistering pace to recover after getting caught up-field on a Darren Mattocks break – Orr would see a yellow card for blocking off the fleet-footed run, though he was a touch slow to step up on Mattocks’ goal – were it not for Teibert’s ball being so precise, more could perhaps have been expected of the defender.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Henry was just as dominant, meeting a Collen Warner free-kick in the 17th minute, though there was not enough power on the header to cause David Ousted too much trouble.
There was a scary moment for Toronto fans when Henry was caught on the knee by Nigel Reo-Coker, going down with a yelp and drawing a yellow card, but he recovered quickly.
On the weekend, Henry was just as crucial against Houston, compiling twelve more clearances, as well as six recoveries and a pair of interceptions.
The Brampton, Ontario-native was once more a force at the back, getting a strong clearance on a potentially troublesome Brad Davis corner kick – a common refrain this night, putting in a big block on Giles Barnes, and stepping in several times to prevent Will Bruin from finding space.
Henry wasn’t afraid to mix it up, going beak-to-beak with Houston’s Kofi Sarkodie when displeased with the high boot the opponent left dangling as the Toronto defender went in for a challenge.
He would be booked in the 58th minute, somewhat harshly, when his feet got tangled with Barnes in a chase – it was his fourth yellow card of the season – and was far from perfect: once playing a poor ball that led to a Houston chance - Joe Bendik would save any blushes, before getting his wires crossed with the keeper, touching out for a corner when Bendik was en route to collect, and was nearly punished for his overaggressive defending when Bruin beat him to a loose ball, but Bendik again made the save.
Jonathan Osorio
Osorio started in both of TFC’s draws this round - his eleventh and twelfth starts of the season.
On the right-side of the midfield against Vancouver, Osorio had a relatively quiet night, compared to his dynamic display last weekend – perhaps a little worn down with the hectic schedule.
He did play one particularly good ball down the right-side for the overlapping Mark Bloom, who found Jermain Defoe at the near-post, only for the in-form forward to fail in making good contact. It was, however, a loose pass from the Toronto, Ontario-native that led to Vancouver’s goal.
Osorio would make way for Dominic Oduro after 59 minutes.
Come Saturday in Houston, Osorio was swapped over the left-side of midfield, opening up the right for Oduro and replacing the injured Jackson. He had one decent look at goal early, from an Oduro pull-back, but it was deflected wide.
His real contribution to this match was on the defensive side of the ball – his frustration at being by-passed as TFC looked to spring its attackers against the glacial Houston back-line was evident on several occasions. Nevertheless, Osorio put in a shift, tracking deep into his own box on one occasion to cut out a troublesome Brad Davis pull-back, showing some nice hustle to get back and force a turnover with a sliding challenge, before making yet another interception of a Houston ball near his own penalty spot.
He would make way for Daniel Lovitz in the 70th minute.
Kofi Opare
On the bench for Wednesday’s 5-1 win over New England, Opare returned to the Los Angeles lineup for Saturday’s encounter in Kansas City, ultimately falling 2-1 – it was his first start in four matches and just his fifth of the season.
Paired with Leonardo in the centre of defense, Opare was tasked with keeping a lid on the very difficult Dom Dwyer – though his side lost, that Opare played a role in preventing the league’s second best goal-hound from getting on the score-sheet is a mark of achievement.
He was caught under pressure on one occasion, forced into conceding a deep throw-in and was later a touch flat-footed on a Dwyer run, but LA keeper, Jaime Penedo, was quick off his line to snuff out the danger with a sliding clearance.
The Niagara Falls, Ontario-raised defender did tally seven clearances, five recoveries, one tackle and one interception, winning three fouls and committing just one.
When last Opare graced this review, it was pondered why he had not been called into a national team camp – apparently there is some sort of passport complication which prevents his eligibility; hopefully it will be sorted out in the coming months. Thanks to the reader who pointed out the issue.
Patrice Bernier
Bernier made his sixth-straight start for Montreal in a 2-1 losing effort away to Columbus – it was his twelfth start and seventeenth appearance of the season.
Paired with Felipe once more in the middle, Bernier was called upon for the unenviable task of keeping Columbus playmaker, Federico Higuain off the ball as much as possible.
Despite sitting so deep, Bernier was still able to influence the match, playing one neat touch to Marco Di Vaio that nearly led to Justin Mapp giving the visitors the lead and later nicking possession off the boot of Tony Tchani, touching the ball away to Jack McInerney who in turn found Felipe, only for him to drag his shot wide.
The one time he was caught a little up-field, Montreal was severely exposed, as Felipe is not a defender, and Bernardo Anor was allowed to turn, face goal, and line up his shot too easily, leading to his 75th minute winner.
The Brossard, Quebec-native would make way for fellow Canadian Issey Nakajima-Farran in the 80th minute with the Impact trailing.
Post-match, Bernier was adamant and honest, stating “It’s a repeat of what has already been said in the last few weeks - I’m crushed. We have a quick turnaround now in Salt Lake and we have to get points. Our window of opportunity keeps getting smaller and smaller. We have to get results.”
He also commented on their poor road form – now winless through thirteen away from home, “You’ve seen our season. You’ve seen the last few games. There were some clear-cut chances to take the game, two great shots on the other team, the goalie made some great saves. It’s crushing. It’s one of those seasons.”
Before noting the gravity and reality of the situation, “We have to get results. There is a short window left for us to believe that something can be done. With that, you start thinking of next year. There’s a short window of games. The good fortune is that we have a few games this week, but we have to get results.”
Issey Nakajima-Farran
Nakajima-Farran entered Montreal’s loss in the 80th minute, replacing Patrice Bernier, with the Impact in search of an equalizing goal – it was his second-straight appearance from the bench, brining his season total up to eleven, split between TFC and the Impact.
Taking up Bernier’s central position, the Calgary, Alberta-native provided some lively legs, while looking to spring attacks with passes into the wide areas – once finding Andres Romero and then Marco Di Vaio on a later occasion, the striker in turn nearly picked out the run of Felipe with a cross that sailed a little too high for the Brazilian.
Dwayne De Rosario
De Rosario was on the bench for TFC’s midweek draw against Vancouver, but made a cameo appearance in Saturday’s draw at Houston – it was his first appearance in five matches, bring his season total to nine, all bar three from the bench.
Replacing Luke Moore in the 80th minute, the Scarborough, Ontario-native took to the pitch in the town against the team with which he made his name and fame in MLS, spending some eight seasons with the club, five in San Jose and three once they moved to Texas.
Maxim Tissot
Tissot entered Montreal’s loss in Columbus in the 89th minute, replacing Justin Mapp – it was the Gatineau, Quebec-native’s ninth appearance of the season.
The Rest
Kyle Bekker, Rob Friend, Ashtone Morgan, Karl Ouimette were all unused substitutes for their respective sides.
Ashtone Morgan and Russell Teibert were named to the MLS Homegrown Match, scheduled to take on Portland Timbers’ U-23s during the All-Star festivities.
All video and quotes courtesy of MLSsoccer.com
Each week James takes a look at the contributions of Canadians in the league and the league as a whole.
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