There were huge winners during MLS Rivalry Week this matchday, with big score lines and terrific goals making the headlines.
MLS Rivalry Week sees clubs from across Major League Soccer face off against their rivals in important derby games.
El Tráfico, The Hudson River Derby, Hell is Real Derby, The Canadian Classique, The Texan Derby, The Florida Derby, The Rocky Mountain Cup, and The Cascadia Cup Derby saw some of MLS’s top sides play their nearest and dearest.
But between Toronto FC’s smashing victory, Alonso Martinez’s banger, Marco Reus’ brace, and a terrific Orlando City display, there were some big winners this weekend.
Toronto FC’s delight in the Canadian Classique
Toronto FC had only scored six goals in their last 11 MLS games combined, so when they hit Canadian rivals FC Montreal for six on Saturday, eyebrows were certainly raised.
As two of the bottom three clubs in the Supporters’ Shield, on paper, the Canadian Classique has hardly lacked quality.
Despite Toronto’s superb scoreline, it was FC Montreal who started stronger. Giacomo Vrioni had a goal ruled out for a narrow offside. Montreal’s bubble was burst via a terrific bursting run and finish by Tyrese Spicer.
A key moment came shortly after Joel Waterman was sent off for Montreal due to a last-man tackle. From there, it was all Toronto, and it was a real classy show by Federico Bernardeschi. The Italian grabbed a brace, Ola Brynhildsen scored his goal between those, though, to make it 0-3 after only 33 minutes. Later in the game, Theodor Corbeanu grabbed a brace too, to cap off an outstanding 1-6 victory.
Alonso Martinez sparks a Hudson River victory.
New York City FC hosts their foes from across the river, New York Red Bulls, in a competitive derby. The Red Bulls, powered by Emil Forsberg and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, dominated possession but were sloppy on the ball and failed to create many big chances.
For the home side, though, step forward Alonso Martinez. The Costa Rican striker and NYCFC star player, Martinez, received the ball midway through the opposition half. He took one touch to turn, another touch to set, and a third to hit a sensational strike from 25 yards that zipped straight into the top corner of Carlos Coronel’s goal.
Later, to make the derby victory even better, Martinez pounced on a Coronel error to tee up Maxi Moralez, who beat the keeper to make it 2-0.
A goal and an assist on derby day? A terrific match for Alonso Martinez.
Marco Reus earns Galaxy a solid point in El Tráfico.
The LA Galaxy is having a very poor season. They’re rock bottom of the Supporters’ Shield table, and since winning the MLS Cup last season, they’re on a 14-game winless run in the league.
So when noisy city rivals LAFC came to Dignity Health Sports Park, an away win was expected. MLS’s fourth-place side rocked up with star-attacker Denis Bouanga in form, having scored in his two previous games. He made it three in a row by smashing a superb driven shot from outside the box, then Nathan Ordaz scored in the second half to give the away side the lead.
Despite Bouanga’s brilliance, El Tráfico headlines belong to Marco Reus.
The Borussia Dortmund legend netted his first brace in Major League Soccer as he earned the Galaxy a solid 2-2 draw.
After six minutes, he opened the scoring after knocking home a rebound off his shin. He was influential throughout, but the crowning moment came in the 87th minute. He stepped up and placed a terrific free kick into the far corner to draw the scores level at 2-2. It was a real moment of high quality from the German, showing just why the Galaxy brought him in in the first place.
Orlando City hammer Lionel Messi’s Miami
The Florida Derby didn’t disappoint for the away side, who ran riot at Chase Stadium.
Inter Miami’s defensive structure was a continuous disaster. Orlando City could have been three goals up early in the second had they capitalised on Inter Miami’s defending errors, however, they had to settle for a two-goal lead instead.
Pedro Gallese’s goalkeeper punt downfield was chased onto by Luis Muriel, who smartly converted before the break. Marco Pasalic made it 0-2 shortly after the break with a Frank Lampard-esque shot from just inside the area. They’d make 0-3 when Dagur Dan Thorhallsson thrashed a close-range shot home after Duncan Maguire put the ball on a plate for him.
Lionel Messi had a mixed evening. The Argentine had nine shots, but only two of those were on target, and a 50% dribble completion percentage showed he wasn’t at his scintillating best.
The remarkable victory for Orlando City was the fifth time in the last six games that they’ve scored three or more goals in a game, and the three points saw them leapfrog Miami. Meanwhile, Javier Macherano’s side extended their run of only one win in the last seven games.
Elsewhere on Rivalry Week…
Hell is Real didn’t disappoint, and the feisty game saw two goals. An Evander bicycle kick assist for Kevin Denkey opened the scoring for FC Cincinnati, but a Diego Rossi penalty equalised for Columbus Crew in the second half.
In the Rocky Mountain Cup clash, a Djordje Mihailovic effort earned the Colorado Rapids all three points and the bragging rights over Real Salt Lake.
Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders faced off in a Cascadia Cup contest, but the score was tied at 1-1. Albert Rusnak opened the scoring with a terrific low strike before Santiago Moreno levelled for the Portland Timbers.
A second half double from Jack McGlynn and Griffin Dorsey gave the travelling Houston Dynamo side a big Texas Derby win in Dallas. McGlynn’s long range effort was a particularly good strike, it gave the Dynamo a platform to build upon.