2019 Philadelphia Union vs FC Cincinnati

Browne, Mattocks, & Ibarra Perfect The Art Of The MLS Super-Sub

Browne, Mattocks, & Ibarra Perfect The Art Of The MLS Super-Sub

Omar Browne, Darren Mattocks, and Miguel Ibarra aren't regular starters, but that doesn't really matter.

Apr 30, 2019 by Wesley Davidson
Browne, Mattocks, & Ibarra Perfect The Art Of The MLS Super-Sub

One of the marks of a great manager is being able to read a game and introduce the right player when their side is in need of a spark. Sometimes an injury necessitates a change, and other times it’s part of an ongoing chess match between opposing tacticians, but selecting the right ingredient for the moment is no easy feat.

Similarly, some of the most influential players are those who embrace their role as a super-sub and can harness an injection of pace or unique skill set to capitalize on fatigued legs and minds. Who made the biggest impacts off the bench in Week 9 of MLS play and made their managers look good in the process? FloFC takes a look at three who stood out over the weekend.

1. Omar Browne | Montreal Impact

Looking for a surefire way to make this list? Try scoring the game-winner in your MLS debut. Montreal coach Rémi Garde was forced to make an early change when Clément Bayiha went down with an injury in the first half. In steps 24-year-old Omar Browne in the 40th minute, who only joined the side on loan from Panamanian outfit Independiente de la Chorrera three weeks prior.

Locked in a scoreless draw as the match wore on, the Panamanian collected the ball on the endline in the 83rd minute with imagination racing. He then snaked past a defender into the box before rifling home a shot off a fortunate Bastian Schweinsteiger touch.



A bit of inventive play was enough to secure Montreal’s second consecutive shutout win, and Browne will look to continue having his way against MLS defenses — he scored a double against Toronto and added an assist against Sporting KC in the Concacaf Champions League earlier this year.

2. Darren Mattocks | FC Cincinnati

While it may have been in a losing effort, Darren Mattocks came on for Emmanuel Ledesma in the 63rd minute against the Red Bulls and provided a spark for his side immediately. He was part of a second half that produced just about everything besides actually finding the back of the net, including striking the post on three occasions. Mattocks himself was denied by the woodwork after making a nice move to round Luis Robles, but he just couldn’t tuck it away from a tight angle.



The Orange and Blue are in the midst of a scoring drought that has now reached three matches, but Mattocks was encouraged by their second-half effort at Red Bull Arena, saying, “If you look at what we did in the second half, if you can do that for the majority of the game, I think we put ourselves in good shape to get points on the road.”

The next chance for Cincy to put their offensive troubles to bed comes quickly with a Wednesday trip to the Philadelphia Union.

3. Miguel Ibarra | Minnesota United

Miguel Ibarra didn’t get on the score sheet or provide an assist in Minnesota’s first win at Allianz Field. However, his 51st-minute entrance completely changed the game and he ignited the move that produced Angelo Rodríguez’s decisive goal. The 29-year-old came on for injured striker Darwin Quintero and after just nine minutes on the pitch had recorded two of Minnesota’s four total shots.

The attacking midfielder was given license to pick his spots, string together passes, and pull D.C. United defenders out of position. It took a brilliant Bill Hamid save to deny him from finding the back of the net with a half an hour to play.

He continued to be a menace throughout the rest of the second half before intelligently switching the point of attack to Romain Métanire in the 82nd minute to tee up the game’s only goal. Ibarra returning to full health following a hamstring injury in early April will have Loons feeling better about their chances ahead of a challenging month of May.