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.
Kyle Porter and Will Johnson claim the top two spots this week, while the third will be left unmanned, rather than shoehorning in some undeserving soul.
That’s not to belittle the contributions of the other candidates, more a recognition that none did anything to particularly distinguish themselves from the pack this week.
Find out what Porter and Johnson did to deserve recognition, as well as who else earned their keep this week. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Kyle Porter
Porter’s DC picked up their first point in over two months on Sunday with a 1-1 draw at RFK Stadium against Sporting KC.
Prior to the match, he was the focus of a feature interview at dcunited.com, which contained a portent of things to come, he said, “I’m still getting used to the league and everything. I think as time goes on, there are only positives. I think the more experience, the better I’ll be.”
Making his fifth-straight start, again on the right-side of midfield, and coming off a first assist of the season (his touch on the Dwayne De Rosario free-kick in Dallas was a late addition to the score-sheet) Porter scored his first goal of the season.
Stretching his right-boot to get a touch on a left-sided Chris Pontius cross to the back-post, Porter redirected the ball neatly back across the scrambling Jimmy Nielsen in goal, who could only watch, off-balance, as the rolled beyond his reach and over the goal.
It was an alert run by Porter, spotting Pontius shaping for the cross and eluding the marking of KC left-back Seth Sinovic.
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He nearly added another on his second attempt of the match, after De Rosario had slid him in down the right, forcing a fine kick save out of Nielsen – his specialty – and earning the Canadian a pat on the head and a few words from the veteran keeper.
Porter did well to track the attacking threat of Sinovic all match, once forcing a turnover with a solid body check and was later clattered over by Josh Gardner to earn his side a free-kick. He conceded two fouls, one after a giveaway, which led to a dangerous Sporting set-piece.
The Toronto-native displayed some wonderful footwork to jink between Claudio Bieler and Sinovic under pressure on the touchline.
Kyle made one very important clearance after a corner kick – one of four – but fluffed another later that harmlessly squirreled back to Bill Hamid in goal; adding three interceptions and a pair of recoveries to his defensive contributions.
He was the one who kept Ike Opara onside for that controversially disallowed goal, having remained on the ground deep in his own box after a sliding challenge.
His passing was subpar – completing only eleven of 31 – and lost possession a whopping 24 times; two aspects of his game that must get better. But seldom did his mistakes prove costly and those figures may be more indicative of his isolation on the flank with DC struggling to create.
Post-match Ben Olsen said, “We asked a lot of Kyle this week.* It’s one of those things where you’re new and you get into the game or in a team and you have a couple of games.* You have some moments and you do okay.* You can either go down or move it up a little bit.* We asked him to step it up and start producing, whether it was assists or goals and don’t be okay with just being a starter now.* Get good minutes, push yourself and get your name out there.* I’m glad he did that today.* Chris [Pontius] put a wonderful ball to the back post.* The better soccer players we can get on the field, the better we’re going to be going forward.”
And Porter, when asked about scoring his first MLS goal, said, “It felt great.* I double-checked the linesman to make sure he didn’t call it back.* It was good – a big confidence booster.”
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Will Johnson
Johnson’s Portland Timbers drew 2-2 with Pacific Northwest rivals, Vancouver at BC Place on Saturday.
Making his twelfth-consecutive start at the base of the midfield, he continued an ironman streak of 1080 minutes - every minute possible for the club so far.
Having set a new career high in goals last week, he went a step further, adding his fifth and a second assist of the season – now one shy of equalizing his career best in that offensive category, as well.
It was his second from the penalty spot, though he did earn the chance himself, when he cut in from the left-side of the box on YP Lee and his right-footed shot was adjudged to have struck the arm of Andy O’Brien in the Vancouver box.
Johnson stepped up a took the chance with his right, sending Brad Knighton in goal the wrong way and finishing low to the keeper’s right.
He then shushed the hostile pro-Vancouver crowd.
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The goal made amends for the foul he conceded earlier at the edge of the box that led to Camilo’s opening free-kick strike and saw Johnson pick up his second yellow card of the season – it was his only foul of the match.
His assist came minutes after the Timbers had been reduced to ten, when a hopeful long ball was controlled – possibly; well, probably – by the arms of Jose Valencia,
The Toronto-native complete an impressive 50 of 60 passes and was a little more attacking than he had been in recent weeks, taking four shots – one on, one off, and two blocked – as well as winning a pair of fouls.
Prior to the match he was featured, alongside midfield partner Diego Chara, in an article at MLSsoccer.com and post-match his villainy – the quieting of the crowd – was discussed in a brief piece at The Oregonian.
Dwayne De Rosario
De Rosario started his fifth-consecutive match in DC’s draw with Kansas City.
Aside from setting up Porter’s second chance described above, he created a chance that could have led to a penalty kick when a hopeful poke at the top of the box skimmed the hip of centre-back Matt Besler and may have possibly gotten a piece of his hand – it was most likely just that no call was made.
Both his recorded shot were off-target, including a header in first half stoppage-time from a right-sided Chris Korb cross. His attempt to put the ball back against the grain after leaping in front of the much bigger Opara, was agonizingly wide – it was his best chance of the match.
Prior to the match, De Rosario – and Dejan Jakovic – discussed the side’s troubles in a Washington Times article, and after the match, when asked if he was getting the ball in the right spots, went on to say, “No.* Again, that’s why I said my neck was hurting from looking at the ball going over my head all the time.* They have big boys in the back, and we are obviously playing to their strengths.”
He was quick to sing the praises of all the young players, “It’s good; I think all of the guys that were asked to step in did a great job.* It was a lot to ask them in such a short time.* Some of the guys just came from Richmond and now they are playing against one of the top teams in the MLS.* I thought they did very well, and I’m happy for Kyle to get his first goal of the season. Hopefully it will build his confidence and everyone’s confidence with that result.”
The point raised regarding where he is getting the ball is an interesting one and probably a key factor in DC struggles.
Dwayne has been playing his usual attacking midfield/second striker role, but without Branko Boskovic (allowed to leave), Pontius, and Nick DeLeon (to injury) and Ben Olsen opting to field two more defensive-minded midfielders behind him, De Rosario has been forced to drop deeper and deeper to get on the ball, which limits his effectiveness.
Indicative of this is how seldom he has been flagged for offside this season – four in eight appearances – after tallying 79 in 59 appearances over the previous two seasons.
The Scarborough-native was tidy in his passing – completing nineteen of 27 – and only lost possession sixteen times, which is not bad for him.
He was offside once and won a single foul, making five recoveries and one each of interceptions and clearances.
Dejan Jakovic
Jakovic started his seventh-straight match for DC United, an ironman streak of his own on the go, having missed only one match, when on international duty for Canada back in March.
Olsen has been tinkering with his lineup, given the long losing streak, and as mentioned last week, the fact that all three Canadians have remained fixtures is indicative of their importance to the team.
Perhaps more so with Jakovic, as defensive miscues have been responsible for many of their failings, and despite a certain consistency, Dejan has not been completely guilt free.
The Croatian-born centre-back had some shaky moments – an awkward one-two with Perry Kitchen that eventually got them out of trouble, a sloppy ball from the back that led to a turnover and a Graham Zusi shot, and a couple of poor touches – but on the whole he was more positive than negative.
He won six headers, including a dominant one to dispatch a dangerous Besler throw-in, a weapon that has caused so many others difficulties. His reading of the game is superb, making nine interceptions, one in particular off a heavy touch from Jacob Peterson that spurred a DC attack, adding nine recoveries and five clearances.
Jakovic’s pass completion was a little low – nineteen of 29 – as a result of him trying to stretch the play from his left centre-back slot with long balls that seldom worked; he did play a lovely through-ball for Lionard Pajoy that nearly led to a chance, but Opara won the race.
He was beat by Opara’s run that led to Ethan White’s own-goal and gave away far too many corner kicks – four – to a dangerous KC side, but most were when DC was under severe pressure in the final fifteen minutes of the match.
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Russell Teibert
Teibert did not have a bad match by any means in Vancouver’s draw with Portland, he just did very little of note – it was always going to be difficult to follow up his two-goal performance of the week before, especially having worked very hard in a full match midweek in Montreal in the Voyageurs Cup.
Making his fifth start of the season – and sixth appearance – he was bound to have trouble against the pressing of Portland with two wide-ranging defensive-minded midfielders from his inverted right-wing status.
Attempting to cut in and play on his stronger foot would inevitably bring him towards the pressure and the likes of Will Johnson and Diego Chara, limiting his effectiveness.
He did well in possession - completing twenty of 29 passes – turning over fourteen times throughout the match, and tried to get wide, finding success on three of nine crosses, winning two fouls and conceding one.
Of note, his one foul was on fellow countryman, Johnson, when Teibert blocked off a run in an attempt to apply pressure as Johnson strode up-field.
The Niagara Falls-native had a pair of shots – one on and one blocked – made four recoveries and 2 interceptions; he was the left-footed option standing over the set-piece that Camilo knocked in for the opening goal.
Doneil Henry
Henry had a tough afternoon for Toronto, as they lost a fourth-straight match, 0-1 to Columbus on Saturday.
Paired with a new centre-back partner, Steven Caldwell, Henry was tasked with marking the speedy Dominic Oduro, and had his hands full.
The Brampton-native switched off for a second when most thought Justin Braun had been fouled and that moment allowed Federico Higuain to feed a ball in-between the defense and Oduro to blaze goal-ward, leaving Doneil struggling to recover.
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Oduro’s goal would stand as the winner.
Henry was also caught earlier in the match stepping up to Eddie Gaven in the midfield for an aerial challenge that never transpired, allowing Higuain to ghost behind for a dipping shot from distance that struck the crossbar.
He won seven headers in the match, battling at the offensive end with the big Brazilian, Glauber, and was, for a second week running, very tidy in his passing, completing 25 of 35.
He was guilty of a poor giveaway that allowed Oduro to steal in and flash a shot wide of the far-post.
The young centre-back won three of four tackles, made five clearances and two recoveries, as well as a block and an interception; conceding two fouls in the process.
Jonathan Osorio
Osorio came on in the 57th minute replacing Jeremy Hall in TFC’s match against Columbus.
Making a tenth-straight appearance, all but one from the bench, Osorio has been one of coach, Ryan Nelsen’s go-to guys off the bench this season.
His versatility, the ability to shore up the midfield and contribute going forward, has made him a valuable piece of the side, when Nelsen decides they need a bit more attacking verve from one of their defensive midfield positions.
The Toronto-native played a lovely ball over the top for Robert Earnshaw just minutes after entering the fray, but Earnshaw’s attempt was blocked.
Usually exceptional in his passing, he struggled completing only eight of fifteen, conceding possession nine times, while winning and conceding a foul each way.
The Rest
Ashtone Morgan was on the bench for Toronto FC, while Nana Attakora again missed San Jose’s match – a 1-1 draw with Colorado – still dealing with concussion-like symptoms.
Columbus’ Drew Beckie, was mentioned as a possible starter in muted talks for the league match given the injury to Chad Marshall, and Toronto’s trio of Morgan, Kyle Bekker, and Emery Welshman took to the BMO Field pitch for the reserve match, as did Osorio and a handful of academy prospects.