Three thoughts on Week 3 of MLS.
Three thoughts from Week 3 of MLS from ESPN 700’s JP Chunga
Let him cook
In no world should you be confident in Montreal Impact. They finished last season 11-17-6 (second most losses in the Eastern Conference) relying on veterans. Remi Garde didn’t inspire confidence when he said the club wasn’t able to grab the offseason signings he wanted. But they have a guy who can steal points.
Ignacio Piatti won’t make them an MLS Cup contender, but he can help grab a result when you shouldn’t. He’s that good. TSN highlighted his touches in the first half.
Piatti is in the Federico Higuain category of MLS Live must-watches. If the 20-year-old Jeisson Vargas develops into a consistent MLS-level striker, this can be a fun team to watch.
🎥 | Piatti ➡ Vargas = 🔔 ➡Cameron Porter #IMFC | #MTLvTOR pic.twitter.com/0N38errNXs
— Impact de Montréal (@impactmontreal) March 17, 2018
Plus Nacho beat Tigres 1-0.
Within the hour @MattDoyle76 is going to tweet something alone the lines of “Montreal Impact is obviously better than Tigres.” He thinks it’s clever. Do not give him the satisfaction of Liking this tweet.
— Bobby Warshaw (@bwarshaw14) March 17, 2018
Don’t threaten me with a good time
Mike Petke said nobody should write about how Brooks Lennon is RSL’s right back for the future. Well tell somebody not to do something and…here we are.
No he’s not going to be the right back for the future, but with Danny Acosta in the doghouse and the fullback position hampered by injury, Lennon offers a nice stopgap.
Brooks Lennon did well at his less familiar position of right back: 60 touches, 22/31 passes, 2 key passes, 3/6 long balls, 2/4 dribbles, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 interception, 11/15 duels won, 4 aerials won, 6 recoveries. Positive going forward, solid defensively. #RSLvNY #RSL pic.twitter.com/jh0wCivjSz
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) March 18, 2018
He got himself into trouble late in the 75th minute, but he handled the situation like a pro.
Justen Glad explained postgame how David Horst helped organize the backline through communication. RSL’s fullbacks were below-average against LAFC, but the position group and the entire team responded well in a no frills 1-0 win against New York Red Bulls. Even when Tony Beltran comes back, Brooks should own the right side (tongue-firmly-in-cheek).
WYD
A wild week for Seattle. There was the low in Guadalajara, and then there was rock bottom in Dallas. Like Bobby Warshaw, I felt Seattle dropped an opportunity to make it three teams in the CCL Semifinals. It’s honestly surprising they couldn’t dispatch of a down Chivas. Then this happened.
After Video Review, a red card is issued to Clint Dempsey for violent conduct. #DALvSEA https://t.co/NhoV5LhGw5
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 18, 2018
Seriously, Clint. The MLS Cup Finalists are winless – is it too early to check the standings?
Skill Check
KB5 turns back the clock
Jonathan Osorio is my winner though. His skill check led to a good opportunity going forward for TFC.
