North Carolina Wesleyan Men's Soccer

Pozuelo's Debut, Vela's Hat Trick, Rooney's Goal & More

Pozuelo's Debut, Vela's Hat Trick, Rooney's Goal & More

Alejandro Pozuelo made the debut of a lifetime for Toronto FC in a wild weekend in MLS play.

Apr 1, 2019 by Steven Streff
Pozuelo's Debut, Vela's Hat Trick, Rooney's Goal & More

Blowouts, outstanding debuts, crazy weather, and ridiculous goals were all the rage this weekend in MLS, as all 24 teams were back in action after the international break. From Friday evening until Sunday night, there was plenty of drama to go around. 

Alejandro Pozuelo's debut for Toronto FC on Friday would have stolen all the headlines for the weekend, if not for Carlos Vela's hat trick against San Jose, or Wayne Rooney's wonderful goal against Orlando City. 

Still, the Spanish playmaker announced his arrival to MLS in style. Pozuelo set up Jozy Altidore for a goal in the first half, before getting a debut goal from the penalty spot. A Paneka, no less. He then topped it all off with an audacious chip, which he looped in over Sean Johnson using his weak foot. His debut might not have had the fanfare of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's from last year, but it was just as spectacular. 


Here's our rundown of all the week's action: 

Toronto FC 4 - 0 New York City FC

We've already discussed Pozuelo and TFC, who despite getting knocked out early from the Champions League, have three wins from three games in MLS. On the other side, NYCFC have yet to win a game this year, after drawing their first three. They have just four wins from their last 20 games, and fans are calling for Dome Torrent's ouster. Maybe Pep Guardiola can come and save City? 

Chicago Fire 1 - 0 New York Red Bulls

The highlight of the Fire's week should have been the unveiling and debut of Nico Gaitan. Instead, an own goal from Tim Parker gave the Fire their first win of the season, though Gaitan is still desperately needed to make the Fire better. At the same time, this can't be what Chris Armas had in mind for an encore to winning the Supporters Shield last year. Back to back losses to Orlando City and Chicago have left the Red Bulls with just one league win this season—against the Earthquakes.

New England Revolution 2 - 1 Minnesota United

Brad Freidel hasn't had much success at the helm of the Revs, but the former USA keeper has made sure to deflect any issues with results on the field onto players, and not coaching. At least publicly. This week, he took aim at the mentality of your average MLS player, saying they have it easy without having to worry about getting attacked in public by their own fans after a loss.


It's undoubtedly a ridiculous quote. There are plenty of pressures on players in the league, who every day are at risk of losing their job, being cut by a team with no safety net. However, this time it worked for the Revs! It wasn't pretty, but they went out and beat Minnesota at home, picking up their first win of the season.  

Sporting Kansas City 7 - 1 Montreal Impact

This scoreline is not a joke. Well, it's a joke, but it's also certainly real. Montreal were that bad. Sure, they were missing Ignacio Piatti, who might have clinched the MVP award by not playing in this game. But Piatti can't prevent such a disaster on his own. The Impact just allowed SKC to run riot, embarrassing themselves for 90 minutes. Kristian Nemeth is making Peter Vermes look like a genius for the striker solution, while Johnny Russell bagged two goals for the hosts.

The final scoreline likely saved some embarrassment for the Impact's Harry Novillo. The Martinique winger was likely to play in place of the injured Piatti, but couldn't make the trip from Canada to the U.S. because he lost his passport. 

San Jose Earthquakes 0 - 5 Los Angeles FC

Look, the story here should be Carlos Vela's hat trick. Specifically, the goal he scored to seal his hat trick. This isn't the first time he's scored a goal like this in MLS, but every time he scores a goal like this, it is a thing of beauty.


But instead of Vela's brilliance, the main talking point from this game is just how bad the 'Quakes are. They were the worst team in the league last year, and brought in Matias Almeyda as their new manager, hoping to turn around their fortunes. Turns out, it might have been more than the coaching that is holding SJ back. They are the only team without a point his season and have conceded 14 goals through four games. 

Montreal might have conceded more goals this weekend, but they were on the road, without their best player. Can't say the same about the Earthquakes, who have plenty of questions to answer after just a month of the MLS season.

FC Cincinnati 0 - 2 Philadelphia Union

There was a lot of rain in Ohio on Saturday night, but more about that later. Conditions weren't great at Nippert Stadium, as FCC's good run of form came to an end. Marco Fabian returned from suspension and scored for the visitors, with David Accam adding the second for the Union. That's two wins in a row for Philadelphia, which will certainly help ease the pressure on Jim Curtin.

Also, if you haven't seen it yet, check out Fabian's celebration after his goal. Don't think that play is legal. 


Columbus Crew 2 - 0 Atlanta United

Pedro Santos scored early for Columbus, before the game was delayed for weather. The teams returned to play the rest of the game in comical conditions. It was probably unwise to have finished a soccer game in weather like this. 


Leandro Gonzalez Pirez found one of the many puddles in Columbus on Saturday night

After the game, ATL keeper Brad Guzan said, "the conditions in the second half, it was a disgrace to be out there." He's not wrong, but that doesn't explain why four United defenders left Gyasi Zardes open in the box to score the game-clincher in the second half. Last year's MLS Cup champions now have zero wins in four games under Frank de Boer and sit in last place in the Eastern Conference. Yikes.

Colorado Rapids 1 - 4 Houston Dynamo

The surprise team in the league this year? Cincy made more headlines, but the Houston Dynamo have won three of their four games and have yet to lose. Albert Elis is playing lights out for the Dynamo, who are also getting production from homegrown midfielder Memo Rodriguez. Under Wilmer Cabrera, Houston remains as deadly as any other team on the counterattack.

Colorado are another team without a win this year, and in each of their three home games, have had a player sent off. By the time Tommy Smith got his marching orders in the 89th minute, the game was already decided. But as my mom always said, it's easier to win games with 11 players than 10.

Real Salt Lake 2 - 4 FC Dallas

Speaking of red cards, RSL picked up their fourth in the past three games. Damir Kreilach tried to headbutt Carlos Gruezo. The attempt didn't exactly land, but it was right in front on referee Baldomero Toledo. Unsurprisingly, Kreilach was immediately sent off, leaving RSL down a man for the final 72 minutes of the game. Dallas, who ran out five homegrown players for the second game in a row, already had the early lead before Kreilach got sent off, and made sure that their numerical advantage showed up on the scoreboard as well. 

Vancouver Whitecaps 0 - 0 Seattle Sounders 

A bit of MLS history was made on Saturday night, when two South Korean players faced off against each other in an MLS game. Kim Kee-Hee for the Sounders and Inbeom Hwang for the 'Caps are now forever the answer to this very specific trivia question. And the two internationally capped players were part of the late drama, as a penalty was given to Vancouver when Kee-Hee was adjudged to have fouled Hwang.

That is, until the play was reviewed, and the penalty was called off, ending the first Cascadia Cup clash in a scoreless tie.

Orlando City 1 - 2 D.C. United

Somehow Orlando didn't get at least a point from this game, considering how much pressure they piled on the visitors in the second half. But this goal right here was the difference on the night.


LA Galaxy 2 - 1 Portland Timbers

Zlatan has been absent for a couple of weeks due to injury, but returned in style on Sunday night, scoring two penalties to give the Galaxy the win. The goal that the Timbers scored was a thing of beauty, with Jeremy Ebobisee finishing off a sweeping move from the Timbers. It wasn't enough for them though, as they continue to look for their first win of the season, amidst their 12-game road trip to open the season. 

Most disappointing moment of the weekend came from this game though. Somehow, the upright denied Zlatan an opener, denying everyone another outrageous tally from the Swede.