An extension to Canadian Soccer News’ MLS Week in Review, this article provides a closer look at the performances of the Canadian players who saw the pitch this week.
Top three spots this round go, almost by default, to the three who started their respective matches – Will Johnson, Russell Teibert, and Doneil Henry – though special mentions for Issey Nakajima-Farran, Kyle Bekker, and Karl Ouimette who made their season, or MLS in the case of Issey, debuts this round.
Find out what they did to deserve recognition and who else earned their keep this week.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Will Johnson
Johnson started a fourth-straight match for Portland in their 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on Saturday, once more paired with Diego Chara at the base of the Timbers midfield.
Again playing a more reserved role on the road, Johnson did not venture forward as much as he does when at home and his tenacity in midfield saw several good battles throughout, most notably with Blas Perez, who was booked in the 17th minute for a foul.
He played his role as captain admirably, ushering off a distressed Michael Harrington after his shock dismissal with a proper old-school bum-slap:
<script height="300px" width="533px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=4bfc225f82bf46c48dfb065eda97f74f&ec=E5b3FnbDpYYJKEmGgxwAwcV7r9Nbm58h"></script>
And Johnson was involved in the build-up - making a little pass to free up Diego Valeri in midfield - that led to their only goal from Max Urruti, thanks to a healthy deflection off Matt Hedges:
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YWpzYcIN2Gk?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
He had a good look at goal in the 72nd minute, but could not make contact in stride with a bouncing ball for a shot from the top of the box to capitalize on a turnover and had the last look of the match from a 95th minute free-kick that curled over the corner of the goal.
The Toronto-born midfielder completed a near-perfect 42 of 46 passes, had one shot – off target, won four headers and two tackles, suffered a pair of fouls, and made three recoveries, while conceding possession just three times.
Post-match, he took the disappointment of going winless through a fourth-straight match to start the season with the cool head one expects of him – “Tough result; thought we deserved better. Give credit where it’s due, guy made a great play. You never feel great after a loss. A loss is a loss, and that’s tough to take. We have to keep building and realize we’re four games in to a 34-game season” adding “We had opportunities to win the game ourselves, and again we didn’t convert. So that’s where the frustration comes from. … But if we start to turn [on] ourselves and let the frustrations of the losses build up, that’s where you run into trouble.”
Russell Teibert
Teibert made a second-straight start after returning from a hamstring concern in Vancouver’s 2-1 win over Houston on Saturday – it was his third start of the season.
Cutting in-field from his station on the left-side of the midfield, Teibert made a very strong run up the middle of the pitch inside the first three minutes, unleashing a low drive from distance that trailed wide of goal.
He put in a good defensive shift, tracking deep into his own box in the 16th minute and tangling with a Houston forward, taking a cleat to the forehead for his troubles, for which he required momentary treatment.
Back on the attack, Teibert put in two good searching crosses from Darren Mattocks, but both were cut out by the towering Houston back-line. Changing tact, Teibert later rolled a nice ball down the touch-line for Mattocks to chase, which led to Kofi Sarkodie’s handball in the 56th minute and Kenny Miller’s goal from the penalty spot shortly thereafter.
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Fwu6Tx6QXJ8?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Niagara Falls, Ontario-native completed an impressive 31 of 38 passes, took that one shot, lost a tackle and committed a foul, while making six recoveries and losing possession eight times.
Doneil Henry
Henry made a third-straight start for Toronto in their 3-0 loss at Salt Lake on Saturday night – it was his eighth-straight start dating back to last September.
It was a mixed night from the twenty-year old defender, once more exhibiting his dominant physical prowess, while showing he still had some lessons to learn.
Eleven minutes into the game his inexperience was exploited by the savvy, veteran guile of Alvaro Saborio who tied him up inside the corner of the box, daring the centre-back to do something. Henry reacted as Saborio hoped, engaging in the wrestle and granting the Costa Rican a chance to emphasis how he was tossed to the ground.
The referee bit (no surprise there) and pointed to the spot, putting Toronto behind early as Saborio himself stepped to the spot and converted:
<script height="300px" width="533px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#ec=RkdXFnbDpAzcNyyeWH2gbc64X9Xr884m&pbid=4bfc225f82bf46c48dfb065eda97f74f"></script>
His aerial dominance and hard-headedness came into play in a massive collision with Olmes Garcia, with whom he had many a battle on the night, leaving the Colombian prone on the ground in search of treatment, while Henry played on as though it were nothing.
His frustration at how the match played out grew, whiffing on a cross, yelling at the linesman for a call (or lack thereof), shoving Garcia in the back as they tangled, and picking up a yellow card for smashing into Javier Morales in transition; a professional and necessary foul – it was his first booking of the season.
Henry nearly notched the second goal of his career on a 58th minute header from a corner kick, only to see his connection whistle over the target – interestingly his only goal came in Salt Lake back in 2012 from just such an instance, something about that mountain air.
The Brampton, Ontario-native improved his pass completion from last match, completing fourteen of eighteen on the night, had that one headed attempt – off target, won three headers, both his tackles, and committed two fouls – one led to the penalty, the other to a booking, and tallied seven clearances, six recoveries, and six interceptions, while conceding possession a mere four times.
Issey Nakajima-Farran
Nakajima-Farran made his MLS debut for Toronto in Salt Lake, entering on the hour-mark to replace Bradley Orr, having finally, officially completed his long-rumoured signing on Friday.
Taking up the left-side of midfield, Nakajima-Farran was rather impressive in his thirty-minutes, looking lively in attack despite the game having already been decided.
He showed a nice bit of spatial awareness, laying a ball down the left-side of the box for Justin Morrow, whose deflected cross nearly caught Nick Rimando cheating:
<script height="300px" width="533px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=4bfc225f82bf46c48dfb065eda97f74f&ec=ptN3NnbDpy2WNmvT-hxYYPQNxuW3_Jbd"></script>
And he had a very tricky run down that same side and was fouled, but could not buy a call.
The Calgary, Alberta-native completed ten of twelve passes, won two headers, and made two each of interceptions and recoveries, losing possession four times.
He spoke about his wandering career:
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YGpiFi9RGNE?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Dwayne De Rosario
De Rosario too entered Toronto’s loss from the bench with a three-goal deficit to make his third-appearance of the season – second as a substitute.
Replacing Jermain Defoe in the 62nd minute, De Rosario showed all the hustle and willingness to chase one would expect, if not more – chasing down every pass and going up for every header in a losing effort.
He tested Rimando with a low drive in the 76th minute and again later, and his tenacity on a Steven Caldwell header forced a turnover out of Ned Grabavoy to set up a wonderful look for Michael Bradley, who whistled his shot over the top corner of goal.
The Scarborough, Ontario-native completed three of four passes, took two shots – one on, one blocked, won a header, made a single recovery, and lost possession three times.
His post-match interview can be seen here.
Kyle Bekker
Bekker made his first appearance of the season from the Toronto bench having been an unused substitute through their first two matches – it was the tenth league appearance of his career.
Replacing Jeremy Hall in the 78th minute, Bekker made a good case for seeing more minutes in the future, forcing a turnover and initiating a counterattack by intercepting a Morales pass (no small feat on the night), leading to a dangerous Alvaro Rey cross that was cleared out for a corner by Nat Borchers.
And he showed a willingness to track back, following Devon Sandoval all the way to the Toronto goal-line after a Luke Mulholland back-heel gave the big striker a sniff at goal.
The Brampton, Ontario-native completed a perfect eleven from eleven passes and made two recoveries – the inaccuracy of the chalkboards laid bare by the absence of his interception, but it did indeed occur.
Patrice Bernier
Bernier began the match on the bench in Montreal’s 1-1 draw at Philadelphia, but entered in the 74th minute, replacing Collin Warner in the Impact midfield – it was his third appearance of the season and first from the bench.
Moments after his introduction, Andrew Wenger was sent off for a rash tackle – a decision that Bernier did not agree with, remonstrating gently with the referee:
<script height="300px" width="533px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=4bfc225f82bf46c48dfb065eda97f74f&ec=xqMW5nbDo8vTQsxlz02LB1Qbfugw5Mtm"></script>
Just six minutes in, it was his intelligent pressure in the midfield that played a part in Brian Carroll’s rushed pass that led to Vincent Nogueira’s loose touch that Justin Mapp pounced on to spring Marco Di Vaio for the equalizer:
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/MYyMf9QqwXk?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
He would round out his 26 minute cameo with a decent low drive from distance that drifted wide.
The Brossard, Quebec-native completed six of seven passes, made three recoveries and one interception, conceding a single foul and losing possession three times.
Post-match he commented, "It's a big point for us. We had to come out with something. The first half was a little difficult, but we came out in the second half, we created more chances, especially in the first few minutes. It's a great point to take after getting that red card, but we still have to look at ourselves as things are not exactly right eleven versus eleven."
Karl Ouimette
Ouimette made his first appearance of the season in Philadelphia, replacing Felipe in the 87th minute – it was the tenth league appearance of his young career, having joined the club in 2012.
In his briefest of outings, the Terrebonne, Quebec-native completed one of three passes, won two headers and a tackle, made one clearance, and lost possession twice.
The Rest
Ashtone Morgan, Tesho Akindele, Bryce Alderson, and Nana Attakora were unused substitutes for their respective sides (Toronto, Dallas, Vancouver, and DC, respectively).
All videos 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.
You can follow James on twitter @grawsee or read more of his writing at Partially Obstructed View