Former Premier League strikers net hat-tricks while Griezmann’s hot streak continues
By James Nalton
There was a now-familiar display from the wonderkid of the league, while at the other end of the age scale, Antoine Griezmann went viral before scoring a goal to give his team an important win.
With places in the playoffs at stake, MLS is starting to heat up, just like Griezmann.
Hat-tricks for former Premier League strikers
Supporters of Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur will remember Josh Sargent and Vincent Janssen, perhaps for different reasons, but both have found success with their respective MLS teams, or at least they did so this weekend.
Both former Premier League strikers bagged hat-tricks in goal-filled games on Matchday 24 as Toronto FC drew 4-4 with Chicago, and Portland Timbers defeated Minnesota United 5-4.
Sargent’s goal against Inter Miami a couple of weeks ago was his fourth in 12 starts since his big move to Toronto from Norwich.
Though not playing particularly badly, it wasn’t the kind of goal return expected from a striker whose transfer fee of $22 million, potentially rising to $27 million, was a record fee for the Toronto franchise.
The American would be expected to be hanging around the top of the goalscoring charts in a league where the best strikers can have a field day, but he has not been at that level so far.
This hat-trick greatly helps his cause, and all three goals were really well taken, including an impressive strike from outside the box.
It showed he can rack up many more goals in this league in the future.
Janssen made the move to Oregon last month after reasonably productive stints with Monterrey and Royal Antwerp after leaving Tottenham.
This was his first start for the Timbers, and to net three goals will be a further boost to the team as they look to solidify a playoff spot following a disappointing start to the season.
The hat-trick was more than just a personal positive for Janssen, it was also the first MLS hat-trick by a Timbers player in the history of the club. Fairly unbelievable for a team that have been playing in the league since 2011, but Janssen will forever have this accolade.
No goals but another assist and milestone for Messi
Lionel Messi had scored goals in each of Inter Miami’s previous three games, but Atlanta United kept him out on Saturday with some last-minute defensive heroics.
Though Messi didn’t find the net in this one, he still managed an assist. This means he has a goal contribution in every game he’s played for Miami since returning from the World Cup, marking his latest run of consecutive goal involvements.
The assist came from a corner kick delivery, as Casemiro got another headed set-piece goal for Miami, his second in two games as a centre-back.
This didn’t lead to a Miami win on this occasion, though. Messi came agonisingly close to scoring the winner in the final seconds of the game, but it was Atlanta’s Paraguayan defender Júnior Alonso who was celebrating as he deflected the shot just wide.
In getting an assist in this game, Messi became the first player in MLS history to reach 30 or more goal involvements in three different seasons (per MLS’s definition of assists, which are different to the rest of the world’s as they count some secondary assists).
Griezmann’s hot streak
An image of Antoine Griezmann, dripping in sweat in the Florida heat with a towel around his head and neck, went viral over the weekend.
But rather than wilting in the Orlando humidity, the Frenchman scored the only goal in his team’s 1-0 victory against San Diego.
This is his fourth goal in three games, and it came about following some good play from former Barnsley and West Brom striker Daryl Dike, who has the potential to form a good partnership up top with Griezmann in his second stint with Orlando.
Justin Ellis then fed the ball to Griezmann, who did the rest, finishing coolly into the bottom corner, looking like he had all the time in the world to pick his spot.
The viral clips might suggest Griezmann is struggling with the heat, but since arriving in Orlando, he’s managed to lead them into a playoff spot and has his team on a hot streak of their own.
Sullivan and Philadelphia Union continue their rise
Cavan Sullivan continued his breakout season this weekend with a goal in his team’s 2-0 win at home to Montreal.
It was a third goal in as many games for the 16-year-old, who is now one of his team’s standout players.
The potential everyone talked about with Sullivan from a young age has turned into something real on the pitch for the senior team.
It has coincided with the Union’s impressive rise up the table in the Eastern Conference, going from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the form teams across the whole of MLS.
Sullivan’s latest goal came as the Union extended their unbeaten run to eight games, now featuring six wins, as they look like one of the strongest teams in the league heading into the playoffs.
They still have to make sure they qualify, though, as their poor start means they are only just above the playoff line in the table, and there is still plenty of work to do.
A homegrown player like Sullivan putting in such good performances is certainly helping.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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