MLS: Top 3 performances from midweek action

Midweek MLS action featured six matches on Wednesday night. Here are the top three performances from across this midweek slate.

There were six Major League Soccer matches16 on Wednesday night as the season gets back up to full speed following the summer break for the group stages of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The midweek clashes saw both Montreal and D.C. United gain ground on Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia, while the Earthquakes moved above the playoff line in the West.

There were two special performances on the pitch, while one top-notch performance came from an outside source. We will focus on the outside source to being with, and some great work from the Video Review system in the game between Toronto and Atlanta on Wednesday evening.

It came down to the VAR system to award three penalties at BMO Field, two of which went to the visiting Five Stripes. As is meant to be the way, all three turned out to be the correct decision once the review had been completed. Thanks to the Video Review system, Atlanta had a chance to level the match with the final kick of the match, but Pity Martinez’s penalty flew over the crossbar, giving Toronto the victory.

Now, moving onto the pitch, and to two players who scored braces for their sides to help them to victory. First up is Valeri Qazaishvili, or as we all know him, Vako.

The ‘Quakes midfielder was influential in their victory over the Houston Dynamo. The Georgian international gave his side the lead with a wonderfully improvised flick over goalkeeper Joe Willis.

Just after the hour mark, he could have had an assist to his name as well, a ball into the box was headed towards goal by Chris Wondolowski but Willis flew across to his left to tip it wide of his far post.

The San Jose man then scored his second goal with 15 minutes to go to effectively seal the victory for his side. It could have even been a hat-trick. He later went on a weaving run from the halfway line, dribbling past three defenders before firing a shot off on goal. Willis, though, was there once more to stop the midfielder from taking the match ball home with him.

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Vako now has seven goals in his last four appearances in all competitions, and with him in such good form, along with Wondolowski breaking the all-time MLS goalscoring record earlier this season, the ‘Quakes could be in contention for a deep run into the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Impact were helped to victory by 21-year-old Orji Okwonkwo. Like Vako, it was a night where he could have had a hat-trick, but his two goals were enough for Montreal to take a vital win.

They faced a youthful Portland Timbers side and controlled the ball for the majority of the game. Okwonkwo’s first main action came 20 minutes in when he fired in a near-post shot which had to be tipped onto the post by Timbers’ goalkeeper Jeff Attinella.

The Nigerian forward got his first goal seven minutes later as he ran onto a through ball before firing into the top right corner of Attinella’s goal.

His second, the game-winner, was even better…

https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1144063703878234112

This goal gave the Impact the victory and moved them two points closer to the Eastern Conference-topping Philadelphia Union. Montreal are now just two points behind the leaders.

We also have to give a special mention to England’s all-time top goalscorer, Wayne Rooney. The D.C. United forward scored from inside his own half to condemn Orlando City to an eighth defeat of the campaign.