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.
Jonathan Osorio, Patrice Bernier, and Russell Teibert claim the top three spots this week, with Doneil Henry grabbing attention of the negative sort for his first half dismissal after a pair of yellow cards.
Find out what they did to deserve recognition and who else earned their keep this week. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Jonathan Osorio
Having made his debut for Canada on Tuesday against Costa Rica, Osorio finally made his second start for Toronto FC – his twelfth appearance this season – in their 1-1 draw with Philadelphia, a response from the coach for single-handedly breathing life into a stagnant side and impressing in the second half against New England last week.
Stationed on the right-side of the midfield – he was on the left against the Revolution – he showed excellently, combining well with Ryan Richter giving Philadelphia’s young – and out of position – left-back, Ray Gaddis more trouble than he would have liked.
From the flank he would on occasion move in-field to combine with Luis Silva. The two came together to create a chance for Robert Earnshaw, when Silva dummied Osorio’s pass after a couple of space making exchanges – the striker could only find the side-netting.
Later a one-two with Bobby Convey on the right corner of the box allowed Jonathan in on goal, but his shot from a tight angle was denied – he had another blocked.
The Toronto-native completed 36 of 45 passes and won a pair of fouls, conceding possession eleven times. Defensively, he made six recoveries, two clearances and a block.
The real meat of the performance was his third goal in MLS getting on the end of an inviting cross from Jeremy Brockie.
Richter forced a turnover on the right touch-line, poking the ball towards Jeremy Hall who laid it towards the end-line for the peeling run of the New Zealand international. Brockie took a look before whipping a right-footed cross into the middle where Osorio, feinting slightly to the near-post made a yard of space behind the defender and got on the end for diving headed finish.
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KqHoniwzELw?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
A pair of video interviews from TFC TV: post-match talking about his goal and another from earlier in the week reflecting on the Canada match.
Patrice Bernier
Bernier, started and completed a fourth-consecutive league match for the Impact in their important 1-2 win away to Kansas City on Saturday. The win sees Montreal hop over New York into first place in the East and cap off a good week that saw them lift the Voyageurs Cup on away goals - a 2-2 in Vancouver on Wednesday.
Regardless of how one feels about the Impact, it was a pleasure to see Bernier hoist that trophy.
Partnered with Collen Warner in a defensive-minded 4-2-3-1, shielding the back-line from any additional exposure against the high-octane Sporting attack, Bernier was not on the ball in the run of play as much as one would expect, though his pass selection was still impeccable – completing 24 of 28.
He let the younger legs of Warner do much of the chasing, preferring to stay sound positionally and be wherever he was needed most.
That said he was involved in both goals, each of which came from his service on free-kicks, though neither directly.
The first, from the left end-line after Felipe had been cleaned out by Ike Opara, was half-cleared to Sanna Nyassi at the top of the box – his low strike found the bottom corner of the goal through a crowd.
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hJvHxt1Le18?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The second was a deep free-kick lofted into the middle, which – again - was not properly cleared, eventually falling kindly to Warner who finished. Bernier was right in the midst of the hearty celebrations, congratulating a well-liked teammate who has found minutes sparse this season.
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y6NrDmtxZGk?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
That leadership was again on display when Alessandro Nesta got in the face of Claudio Bieler – Bernier is the first one there to prevent further confrontation – and his coolness under pressure, in the crucible of the cauldron’s blue hell, is evidenced by the look he gives the referee when the red card comes out.
The Brossard-native got stuck in on the tackle – winning three and losing two – made six recoveries, three interceptions and committed four fouls, winning one.
Those four fouls bring his season tally up to twenty, indicating a shrewd ability to break up play without raising the ire of the officials – he was not booked on Saturday and only has one yellow card this season. Keep that in mind for when Doneil Henry’s night is discussed shortly.
He was caught up-field on one occasion that nearly proved costly, when Kei Kamara found space where Bernier should have been for a stoppage-time attempt that blazed wide of the post.
Russell Teibert
Teibert made his second-straight start – his sixth of the season – in Vancouver’s impressive 1-2 win in New York – their first away win of the season – to rebound from another gut-wrenching failure in the Voyageurs Cup midweek – he played that entire match, as well.
Stationed on the right-side of the midfield, he put in a good defensive shift against New York’s left-back Roy Miller – tracking back, winning a tackle, making nine recoveries, two interceptions, and a single clearance - but it was in attack that he really impacted the match.
It was his corner kick that eventually led to Jordan Harvey’s thunderous strike.
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zMbpeGnxigc?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
And he provided the service - a lovely cross from the right - that Kenny Miller converted into the winner.
Jun Marques Davidson lifted a wonderful ball over the back-line for Teibert to collect; Miller (New York’s Roy) gave Teibert far too much time and space to measure a cross once he had switched to his favoured left foot. Miller (Vancouver’s Kenny) displayed his cunning to slip in front of Kosuke Kimura and head in the winner.
<iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j9p64357DlQ?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
It was Teibert first assist of the season and the only cross of five on the night that was successful.
Minutes earlier he had a chance to score himself, cutting in-field onto his left to lash an effort from distance that fizzed wide of the far left-post.
He was guilty of a shocking miss at the death, though he was off-balance - the pass was a little behind him - and should have gotten a corner, as keeper, Luis Robles, did appear to deflect it slightly.
The Niagara Falls-native was much better on the ball, completing 21 of 28 passes, and conceded possession only eleven times.
His post-match interview discusses the character required in a tough match, as well as the miss, and he was a guest of the Pitch Pass podcast earlier in the week – he does not lack for confidence, if the hair did not give that away.
Kyle Porter
Porter made his seventh-consecutive start for DC United in their 2-0 loss to Chicago at Toyota Park on Sunday having played the 90 minutes of regulation in their Tuesday night US Open Cup win over Richmond.
From the right-side of midfield – though he and Chris Pontius switched freely – Porter put in another shift for DC, as they struggle with a long winless streak of eleven matches.
The Toronto-native nearly provided a goal, when his right-sided out-swinging corner kick was met by rookie centre-back, Conor Shanosky, but the effort went agonizingly over the bar.
He needs to be better on the ball, completing just 19 of 29 passes and three of nine crosses, while conceding possession 16 times – a strong run into the box came to nothing when he let the ball roll away from him.
All three shots that he took were blocked – including one brought about by a fast break between him and Dwayne De Rosario; he did well to close down an over-hit pass and turn towards goal, making space for a shot, but could not get it past the defender.
But Porter worked very hard on the defensive side of the ball - part of why he has made a place for himself in Ben Olsen’s starting eleven - making four recoveries, two interceptions, winning two tackles and a pair of fouls, while conceding an equal amount.
He was replaced in the 79th minute by Rafael, the young Brazilian attacker.
Dwayne De Rosario
A week removed from a controversial spell on the bench, De Rosario was back in the starting eleven – his eighth of the season, alongside – or, more accurately, slightly behind – Carlos Ruiz in attack.
He was involved in the midweek Open Cup victory against Richmond, a former club of his, playing the entire 120 minutes and converting a spot kick – DC won 2-4 in the shootout after a scoreless match.
The Scarborough-native was better on the ball than he had been for much of the season, completing 21 of 27 passes and showed a glimpse of his capability when he found a pocket of space, picked up his head, and cracked an effort from thirty yards off the crossbar - it was his only shot of the match.
He made one clearance and one recovery, winning two fouls, though he still lost possession eleven times before being subbed off for John Thorrington in the 57th minute.
Doneil Henry
Fresh off an impressive match for Canada midweek, Henry made his fourth-straight start at the left centre-back position for Toronto in their draw with Philly.
Perhaps a little too fired up, Henry picked up a booking in the 27th minute after swatting the ball released by Zac MacMath – in the process of taking a goal-kick – into the back of the net and then getting involved in a shoving match for which they both could have been sent off there and then.
Fourteen minutes later, after a long think from the referee, Henry was given his marching orders for a second bookable offense – chopping down Danny Cruz at the top of the TFC box. It was a touch harsh; as it was only his second foul of the game, but he should take a page out of the Bernier handbook, study the art of fouling when necessary without drawing attention to oneself.
The Brampton-native, who seems to grow in stature with every match, was again excellent on the ball, completing 15 of 18 passes; he is especially adept at winning headers – four – and directing the ball towards a teammate to retain possession.
He made one clearance and one recovery, won a tackle and lost another, before seeing the first MLS red card of his young career.
Ashtone Morgan
Morgan returned to the pitch for Toronto – making his seventh appearance, following a month on the bench - at the start of the second half, replacing Luis Silva, as TFC restructured their back-line after Henry’s dismissal.
An impressive match for the National Team in Edmonton – and a break from the monotony of TFC – did him well. He looked a little bit more comfortable in a defense-first role than he had earlier in the season and made a crucial interruption on Jack McInerney after Conor Casey had headed a ball into the striker’s path.
A pair of interceptions, one each of recoveries, clearances, blocks and blocked crosses, while conceding a single foul, isn’t great, but it’s an improvement.
The Toronto-native must improve his passing – five of ten completed – and still conceded possession five times, though usually from punts up-field rather than being stripped.
He was interviewed on TFC TV after his spell with Canada.
The Rest
Quillan Roberts and Wandrille Lefevre were on the benches for Toronto and Montreal, respectively.
Nana Attakora missed yet another match due to concussion-like symptoms – he was listed as OUT – but reports last week indicated he hoped to return in time for San Jose’s June 15 match at Colorado.
Dejan Jakovic missed a second-straight DC United match – third if the Open Cup is included – with what is now being called a left adductor strain – he was listed as QUESTIONABLE.
Will Johnson and the Portland Timbers had a bye this weekend, but he put in a full 90 in their US Open Cup match on Wednesday in a 5-1 win at home over Wilmington Hammerheads – great name.
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