USMNT Rewind: Zardes, Morris and Aaronson Shine Amongst U.S. Players in MLS Last Week

With most leagues dormant in the midst of a FIFA international window, MLS took center stage his week and many players shone in the spotlight.

 

Gyasi Zardes broke into double figures for the third consecutive Major League Soccer season and fourth overall with his goal in Columbus Crew SC's 2-1 loss to the Montreal Impact on Oct. 7. He did not have an opportunity to add to his total at the weekend because the Sunday game against Orlando City SC was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.

 

 

The 29-year-old striker sits second in the MLS Golden Boot race with 10 goals, trailing only LAFC’s Diego Rossi (12). Zardes has also recorded four assists for Crew SC this season. He has accrued 76 goals and 23 assists through 208 matches in his eight-year MLS career.

 

Forward Jordan Morris continued his fine all-around performance this season, scoring the opening goal off a feed from USMNT teammate Cristian Roldan in Seattle Sounders FC’s 2-1 win against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 7. The victory extended Seattle's winning streak to three games.

 

 

The goal was the 25-year-old’s eighth of the campaign, tying him with LAFC’s Bradley Wright-Phillips for the fourth spot in the Golden Boot table. He is one goal behind Raul Ruidíaz for the team scoring lead.

 

Roldan recorded his third assist to go along with two goals this season.

 

Midfielder Brenden Aaronson set up a goal in the Philadelphia Union's 3-0 victory against FC Cincinnati on Oct. 7. On Sunday night he then recorded a second assist on Sergio Santos’ eventual game-winner in Philadelphia’s 2-1 win against the Montreal Impact. Center back Mark McKenzie was a major factor in the team's defense in both results.

 

𝘚𝘐𝘓𝘒𝘠, running 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄. 😎@AaronsonBrenden collected his fourth assist of the season with this feed to @AleBedoya17 for @PhilaUnion last night.

Nice finish, Ale! 👀 👏

(@MLS) pic.twitter.com/7bqzkXpLjo

— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 8, 2020

 

Aaronson has four goals and five assists matches this season, while McKenzie has contributed to eight clean sheets across 17 matches.

 

Other highlights:

 

• U-23 MNT-eligible forward Ayo Akinola scored the lone goal in Toronto FC's 1-0 triumph at the New England Revolution on Oct. 7. Akinola has enjoyed an outstanding strike rate for the Reds, scoring eight goals in only 798 minutes through 12 matches.
• Defender Walker Zimmerman headed home his second goal of the season off a 15^th minute corner kick from Randall Leal in Nashville SC’s 2-1 defeat at Sporting Kansas City on Sunday.
• Defender Julian Araujo tallied in the LA Galaxy's 6-3 defeat to the Portland Timbers on Oct. 7.

  

MLS

 

• Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia Union) – 89 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Montreal Impact (Oct. 11); 90 minutes, ASSIST in 3-0 win vs. FC Cincinnati (Oct. 7)

• Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC) – 31 minutes in 1-0 win at FC Cincinnati (Oct. 11); 85 minutes, GOAL in 1-0 win at New England Revolution (Oct. 7)

• Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) – Injured, not in 18 for 1-0 win at FC Cincinnati (Oct. 11); Injured, not in 18 for 1-0 win at New England Revolution (Oct. 7)

• Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy) – Game at Colorado Rapids postponed (Oct. 10); 90 minutes, GOAL in 6-3 loss vs. Portland Timbers (Oct. 7)

• Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) – Injured, not in 18 for 1-0 win at FC Cincinnati (Oct. 11); Injured, not in 18 for 1-0 win at New England Revolution (Oct. 7)

• Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas) – Game vs. Minnesota United postponed (Oct. 11); 26 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. Houston Dynamo (Oct. 7)

• Chase Gasper (Minnesota United FC) – Game at FC Dallas postponed (Oct. 11); Not in 18 for 0-0 draw at Nashville FC (Oct. 6)

• Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC) – 90 minutes in 1-0 loss to New York Red Bulls (Oct. 10); 90 minutes and SHUTOUT in 0-0 draw vs. Orlando City SC (Oct. 7)

• Bill Hamid (D.C. United) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Chicago Fire (Oct. 11); 90 minutes in 4-1 loss at New York City FC (Oct. 7)

• Sean Johnson (New York City FC) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. New England (Oct. 11); 90 minutes in 4-1 win vs. D.C. United (Oct. 7)

• Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids) – Game vs. LA Galaxy postponed (Oct. 10); Game at Los Angeles FC postponed (Oct. 7)

• Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes) – 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Portland Timbers (Oct. 11); 85 minutes, ASSIST in 3-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Oct. 7)

• Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy) – Game at Colorado Rapids postponed (Oct. 10); 90 minutes in 6-3 loss vs. Portland Timbers (Oct. 7)

• Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls) – Not in 18 for 1-0 win at Atlanta United (Oct. 10); 90 minutes in 2-1 loss vs. Inter Miami CF (Oct. 7)

• Daniel Lovitz (Nashville SC) – 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 11); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Minnesota United (Oct. 6)

• Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. Montreal Impact (Oct. 11); 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. FC Cincinnati (Oct. 7)

• Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire) – Not in 18 for 2-1 win vs. D.C. United (Oct. 11); 79 minutes in 1-0 loss at Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 7)

• Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Los Angeles FC (Oct. 11); 90 minutes, GOAL in 2-1 win vs. Real Salt Lake (Oct. 7)

• Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC) – Not in 18 for 1-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls (Oct. 10); 90 minutes in 0-0 draw vs. Orlando City SC (Oct. 7)

• Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC) – 90 minutes in 3-1 loss at Los Angeles FC (Oct. 11); 90 minutes, ASSIST in 2-1 win vs. Real Salt Lake (Oct. 7)

• Matt Turner (New England Revolution) – 90 minutes in 2-1 win at New York City FC; 90 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. Toronto FC (Oct. 7)

• Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids) – Game at LA Galaxy postponed (Oct. 10); Game vs. Los Angeles FC postponed (Oct. 7)

• Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes) – 90 minutes in 3-0 loss at Portland Timbers (Oct. 11); 90 minutes in 3-0 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (Oct. 7)

• Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC) – Game vs. at Orlando City SC postponed (Oct. 11); 90 minutes, GOAL in 2-1 loss draw to Montreal Impact (Oct. 7)

• Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) – 90 minutes, GOAL in 2-1 loss at Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 11); 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw vs. Minnesota United (Oct. 6)

 

Abroad

 

• Johnny Cardoso (Internacional; Brazilian Serie A) - Did not dress for 2-0 win at Red Bull Bragantino (Oct. 8)