As an extension to Canadian Soccer News’ MLS Week in Review, here are further details regarding the performances of the Canadian players who saw the pitch in MLS this week.
Kyle Porter, Nana Attakora, and Jonathan Osorio claim our top three spots this round, narrowly keeping Wandrille Lefevre from the podium, though he deserves an honourable fourth-placed mention.
Find out what they did to deserve recognition, as well as who else earned their keep this weekend.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Kyle Porter
Kyle Porter put in a shift for his struggling DC United against the Columbus Crew.
Starting a second consecutive match on the right-side of midfield, he was extremely active on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, he was tracking runs - once following Eddie Gaven all the way across the field and deep into the defensive third to snuff out any trouble - winning one registered tackle, making three recoveries and two clearances.
Offensively, he was on corner and free kick duty – it was his corner kick that eventually led to DC’s disallowed goal, after Chris Korb had collected the half-clearance and sent it back in - and took a pair of shots – one on target, nearly scoring, the other blocked.
Twice he played lovely curling crosses into the area for Lionard Pajoy - who gave up prematurely on the first and was denied by Andy Gruenebaum on the second - and also put a quality ball into space behind to right-back to spring the Colombian in attack.
He couldn’t hold his run and was offside for a threaded Marcos Sanchez ball, and later pulled into a great position for a shot at the top of the box, but Korb fizzed a shot over, rather than pass.
Porter was cleaned out by Gaven in the corner, earning one of three free-kicks he won on the night. At times he again struggled in possession – conceding 16 times – but completed 31 of 43 passes, given how static and uninspired much of DC’s play was it is hard to fault him entirely for those numbers.
His performance earned him on-air praise from Duncan Oughton, the Columbus colour-commentator, who was impressed with the graduate of the second-division.
A special subsection on Porter’s link up with fellow Canadian, Dwayne De Rosario:
The two nearly combined for a goal when De Rosario made a nice run from deep to latch onto a ball from Pajoy, then touched over to Porter on the right-side of the box. Porter unleashed a right-footed blast bound for the bottom corner, short-side, but Gruenebaum got down quickly and just managed to push it on to the post.
It was then Porter’s turn to play provider when a cross from the right nearly picked out De Rosario for a spectacular acrobatic overhead attempt that failed to connect.
Nana Attakora
Nana Attakora made his second straight start – and third consecutive appearance for San Jose, as the left-sided centre-back, alongside Victor Bernardez.
He dominated his mark, Jose Correa, for much of the night, winning headers at each end – seven that night, blocking crosses, cutting out through-balls, while nearly being decapitated – well, not really - by a high boot from the forward.
He snuffed out a quick counterattack attempt by ushering Carlos Alvarez harmlessly into the corner and later used his size to block the diminutive attacker away from a loose ball; making a trio each of interceptions, clearances and recoveries
While he couldn’t clear Chivas’ first goal from the line – it trickled beyond his reach – he made amends by helping to create the late, game-tying goal by shirking a tackle and sending a ball down the left-side of the pitch for Salinas to cut-back to Cordell Cato.
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He had a headed attempt on goal, after Steven Lenhart had popped the ball out of the hands of Chivas keeper, Dan Kennedy, but Joaquin Velasquez was able to clear it away from the line.
It was great to see him confidently striding out of the back – one of two successful dribbles - and playing a similarly penetrative ball into space for Justin Morrow to cut-back to Adam Jahn, though his attempt was deflected out for a corner. Attakora completed 38 of 49 passes on the night.
He showed excellent hustle to keep balls in play on a few occasions, extending the spells of pressure with crosses.
Coach Frank Yallop could be heard on the broadcast, remonstrating with the referee that Nana was constantly being held on set-pieces, evidence of his threat in the box.
Jonathan Osorio
Jonathan Osorio replaced Andrew Wiedeman after 67 minutes, for his fifth straight appearance – four from the bench – and seventh of the season for Toronto FC.
He scored his second goal for his hometown club, again it was wasted by a late-concession, but it was a beauty.
Darren O’Dea lofted a deep free-kick into the area, prompting New York keeper, Luis Robles to rush out and swat it away. He missed and Ryan Richter calmly poked it back to Osorio, who switched it onto his right foot to make space and placed a shot in off the underside of the bar, over the heads of the retreating defenders.
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For those keeping track that is two goals in 129 minutes of play, prompting the question why he has not seen more time – that said, he looked overmatch in his lone start against Dallas and he put in a full shift in Wednesday’s Voyageur’s Cup opener.
In his 23 minute cameo, his stat line reads: three passes attempted and completed; one shot on target, one goal; and one successful dribble.
Wandrille Lefevre
Wandrille Lefevre, a France-born permanent resident, replaced Alessandro Nesta after 54 minutes as the right-sided centre-back, alongside Hassoun Camara for Montreal; his first appearance in MLS.
Three minutes into his debut he had his first assist, sending a long ball up to Andrea Pisanu in the middle, who played out to Andres Romero, where he cut in and struck a screamer, earning goal of the round plaudits at the main review.
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Not bad for a first appearance.
He was later fully initiated into MLS when he was wrongly booked for an excellent tackle, dispossessing Joel Lindpere by poking the ball away, if slightly from behind, prompting a yellow card from the flustered referee.
In less than one half of football, he was near-perfect, completing 22 of 25 passes, making six recoveries, three interceptions, and two clearances, but struggled a little to cope with the sheer physicality, thrice conceding possession and once failing to keep up with the bustling Maicon Santos, who broke past him for a tight-angled shot that skimmed off the top of the bar.
Post-match, when asked about his first match, he remarked, “Things happen very quickly when you get on the field as substitute, I didn’t even have time to get nervous. I knew that I was coming in as a central defender despite being a natural midfielder, so I just told myself that I can’t make any mistakes keep it simple.”
Fair to say he achieved that aim.
Will Johnson
Will Johnson started and completed his eighth match of the season for Portland, extending his iron-man streak – having played every minute of every match for the Timbers.
On the whole, it was a rather quiet night from Johnson. A reprisal of the more defensive role he is apt to fulfill away from home, where he tends to not get too involved in the attack, preferring to orchestrate the midfield, clog up spaces, and squash any potential fires before they start.
He spent much of the match hovering in front of the back four, cancelling out the threats of Benny Feilhaber and Graham Zusi, while often dropping deep into his own box and marking dangerous opponents on set-pieces.
His newfound celebrity, as star of a surging side, prompted a physical approach from Kansas City, he was fouled harshly several times at the start of the match and had a heavy collision with Aurelien Collin when trying to force a Diego Valeri rebound over the line.
He completed 55 of 64 passes – a look at his passing matrix depicts how integral he is to the side, even on a quiet night - and made six each of interceptions and recoveries, as well as two clearances.
Dwayne De Rosario
Dwayne De Rosario made his second straight start for DC, playing as a second striker, off the shoulder of Pajoy.
It has been a tough start to the season for Dwayne - preseason suspension followed by a muscle injury has disrupted his flow - and he struggled at the offset of the match. He didn’t look too spritely, perhaps as a result of the delayed start interrupting his pre-game routine.
He sent a nice ball from the right to the back-post, but it was caught easily by Gruenebaum, whereas a corner kick failed to beat the first man and a free-kick routine, where he only touched it forward a yard for a teammate rather than assume the responsibility, ended with a shot straight at the wall.
His frustrations reached a boiling point when he was shouting at the referee - who admittedly made a meal of the match and often got in the way of play - after Dejan Jakovic was called for a very weak foul. Fortunately, Dwayne bit his tongue, offering, “How is that a foul?” by way of criticism; tame compared to some of the saucier language overheard this weekend.
Come the second half he looked more himself, stinging a drive from distance that troubled the Columbus keeper, though his long-range, daisy-cutter of a free-kick came to naught. He did get on the end of a tidy back-heel from Pajoy on the right-side of the box, but his attempt was denied at the short-side.
His passing was a little more crisp – competing 45 of 58 – and his shooting more accurate – three of five on target forcing saves, the other two blocked, and two off-target; adding four recoveries and one interception to his haul.
He was caught in possession 16 times, which is pretty standard for him, most of which were in the attacking third at least. He also conceded one foul, clattering into former trade-mate, Tony Tchani.
Dejan Jakovic
Dejan Jakovic started his fifth straight match at left centre-back for DC and though he didn’t have a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, his centre-back partner had a mare, as DC conceded three first half goals.
The downfall began early when Brandon McDonald mishandled a pretty routine pass from Jakovic, allowing Gaven to steal in requiring two excellent last-ditch tackles from McDonald.
Jakovic was caught in no-man’s land between the triangle of Jairo Arrieta, Dom Oduro, and Federico Higuain on the first goal.
He responded with a nice surging run up-field, earning his side some ground and showed an impressive burst of pace to match Oduro step-for-step on a lung-busting chase after a long ball down the pitch – he was shoved, gently, into the advertising hoardings for his troubles.
He attempted to quell the onslaught and was out like a flash to hurry a Higuain shot that went off-target.
As usual he was precise with his passing, completing 42 of 50, and was stoic in defense, making nine recoveries, seven clearances, and five interceptions, while winning three fouls and conceding none; though he did concede one corner kick.
But it was an off-night for DC.
Patrice Bernier
Patrice Bernier’s unblemished attendance record for Montreal took a hit on Saturday, when he was omitted from the starting lineup for the first time since last July in league play.
He did, however, play the full Voyageur’s Cup match on Wednesday, as one of the few regulars in a makeshift lineup.
He entered as a second half substitute in the 61st minute, coming on for Felipe, after Montreal had their precious goal.
He completed an impressive 22 of 24 passes, made two blocks and a recovery, won a foul, but conceded possession four times and committed a single foul on Chris Rolfe in a dangerous attacking position – Daniel Paladini sent his attempt wide.
It is safe to assume Bernier will lead out his side in Wednesday’s opening round decider against TFC.
Ashtone Morgan
Ashtone Morgan had a tough afternoon on Saturday. He too played the entire match on Wednesday night, but it was not fatigue that bothered him; it’s adapting to his defense first role.
He got forward much more than Ryan Nelsen has allowed him previously, especially when Toronto went forward late in the second half, and was much better on the ball than he has been, completing 38 of 54 passes.
He contributed seven recoveries, three clearances, and a single interception, while winning one tackle and one foul. But it was his poor clearance that fell straight to Peguy Luyindula in the waning moments that led to New York’s game-winner from Tim Cahill – who crushed Morgan in the air on the finish, adding insult to injury.
With outside backs in limited supply – and falling to injury – expect Morgan back out there on Wednesday night in Montreal.
The Rest
Toronto’s Terry Dunfield is still out with a knee strain, while Emery Welshman returned midweek going the full ninety, but was not in the 18, despite a strong performance – he should reappear on Wednesday.
Montreal’s Karl Ouimette and Maxime Tissot were also left out of the game-day squad – expect them both back in the lineup come Wednesday.
Russell Teibert and Doneil Henry were unused substitutes for Vancouver and Toronto, respectively; again, Wednesday.