ASN: Gutierrez, McGuire, Bender, & Luna spotlight a giant day younger People in MLS

It was an enormous night time in MLS for younger American gamers and ASN’s Brian Sciaretta appears to be like on the highlights and breaks down the nice outings. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 22, 2023
10:50 AM

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WEDNESDAY NIGHT noticed an almost full slate of video games in MLS and it was a terrific night time for younger American gamers. All through the league, there have been circumstances of American gamers scoring targets, making key assists, or good defensive performs to assist their groups. 

MLS has bought plenty of younger gamers in recent times and the important thing to being a promoting league is to rapidly replenish the expertise with youthful gamers who’re simply pretty much as good, if not higher.

The present group of younger gamers within the league is stable. Among the gamers come from a troublesome era that noticed COVID cancel their U-20 cycle and lose most of a season. However, for essentially the most half, they’re rebounding properly.

This spherical of video games highlighted that the gamers are having massive impression in video games and are impacting outcomes – versus merely enjoying.

Let’s do a rundown.

 Younger American gamers stand out
 

If defining younger gamers as being eligible for U.S. youth groups beginning with the 2024 U.S. U-23 crew and beneath. This contains gamers who have been within the pool for the U-20 World Cup final month and gamers who’re eligible for the subsequent U-20 crew in 2025.

Let’s have a look at why this was a giant night time.

Brian Gutierrez
 

Chicago’s Brian Gutierrez had a giant night time on Wednesday in a formidable 2-1 away win over Portland. He’s in the midst of a breakout season and is changing into one of many league’s prime prospects. He actually was missed by the U.S. U-20 crew on the World Cup the place Chicago denied his launch.

Gutierrez assisted on each of Chicago’s targets and had massive numbers throughout.

Brian Gutierrez: uncooked # for Chicago in a 2-1 away win over Portland87 mins52 touches24/32 passing2 assists2 shots2/3 dribbles1/3 lengthy balls1/1 crossing2/3 tackles8/13 floor duels3 fouls3x fouled- superb recreation from Guti. He was missed on the U-20 WC

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 22, 2023

His second help discovered Kei Kamara within the field for a header. Kamara is sort of 19 years older than Gutierrez.

— Main League Soccer (@MLS) June 22, 2023

However Gutierrez is a participant who can and may entice switch curiosity ahead of later. He has plenty of instruments and an excellent imaginative and prescient.

Duncan McGuire
 

The rookie ahead from Omaha has exhibits that Orlando continues to profit from the MLS Draft. It’s an outdated mannequin that some groups don’t worth a lot anymore. However when Orlando drafts Daryl Dike and now Duncan McGuire inside of some years, that’s getting some worth.

Like many younger home attackers in MLS, McGuire is competing in opposition to a chosen participant in Ercan Kara, who’s in his prime at 27. Kara has been doing properly recently, however McGuire has been off to torrid begin to his professional profession (he just lately received the Hermann Trophy with Creighton as the perfect faculty participant).

Final night time, he acquired the beginning for Orlando in opposition to Philadelphia with Kara on the bench. McGuire scored the opening aim on a really good particular person effort. He practically acquired a contact on Orlando’s second aim of a 2-2 draw.

— Orlando Metropolis SC (@OrlandoCitySC) June 21, 2023

This now offers him six targets in round 500 minutes for the season. It’s nonetheless a small pattern dimension, however he’s producing and ought to be a possible candidate for the U.S. U-23 crew subsequent 12 months.

Jack McGlynn
 

In Philadelphia’s 2-2 draw with Orlando, current U.S. U-20 World Cup midfielder Jack McGlynn scored Philadelphia’s first aim. It was in all probability an tried cross and Orlando goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar was late to react as a result of he was guarding the header, however McGlynn had an total good recreation.

McGlynn went the space, had 62 touches, was 46/51 in passing, 7/8 in lengthy balls, and had seven passes into the ultimate third. As he continues to get bodily stronger, he ought to proceed to rise.

— Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) June 22, 2023

Ben Bender
 

The Charlotte attacking midfielder got here into the league sturdy final 12 months, however pale a bit within the second half of the season. This season, he began off slowly and wasn’t at all times within the lineup. Now, he’s enjoying properly once more.

In opposition to the New York Pink Bulls in New Jersey, Bender scored two early targets in a 2-2 draw. Each targets have been very good, his first included a tremendous high quality contact.

An attractive ball from Kahlina to Bender ???? pic.twitter.com/SiWLysh0vc

— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) June 22, 2023

The second was a well-placed ball into the highest nook.

Nook flags watch out for Ben Bender. pic.twitter.com/dKqJEkGDC7

— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) June 22, 2023

Bender hasn’t at all times been constant, however when he’s on his recreation he’s harmful. We’ll see if this now retains him on a robust run for a very long time. If that occurs, he might go to Paris – though competitors stays very troublesome within the attacking midfield positions with Paxten Aaronson, Bryce Duke, and Brian Gutierrez additionally searching for spots.

Diego Luna
 

Diego Luna has returned from the U-20 World Cup in good type for Actual Salt Lake. Luna maybe had the perfect recreation of his younger MLS profession on Wednesday when he led RSL to a giant 3-1 away win over St. Louis.

Luna’s numbers have been sturdy:

83 minutes
39 touches
25/28 passing
2/3 lengthy balls
3/4 dribbles
4/7 floor duels received
3 photographs, all heading in the right direction
1 aim

the right arrange for a cooks kiss end pic.twitter.com/ZRHCfiaCzt

— Actual Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 22, 2023

Bryce Duke
 

U.S. U-23 eligible attacking midfielder Bryce Duke has been good since arriving in Montreal earlier within the season from Inter Miami. On Wednesday, he had a MOTM efficiency in a 1-0 win over an excellent Nashville crew, scoring the one aim of the sport.

89 minutes
53 touches
26/33 passing
6 passes into the ultimate third
2/3 tackles
5/9 floor duels received
3 probabilities created
1 aim

— CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) June 22, 2023

Tyler Wolff
 

Whereas Wolff didn’t make the ultimate U-20 World Cup crew final month, he was a part of the qualifying crew in 2022. However now in Atlanta, he’s on a terrific run. In a 2-2 draw with New York Metropolis FC, Wolff scored his fourth aim of the season, all have come within the final seven video games (in 229 minutes).

THIS KID IS ON FIRE ???? pic.twitter.com/m1nm1LTzuH

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) June 21, 2023

Noah Cobb
 

With Miles Robinson away with the U.S. nationwide crew, Atlanta United turned to Noah Cobb – a 17 12 months outdated homegrown making his second look. In Atlanta’s 2-2 draw with NYCFC, Cobb confirmed promise.

90 minutes
80 touches
68/74 passing
4/7 lengthy balls
4 clearances
2/3 floor duels received

Cameron Harper
 

The U-23 eligible winger/proper again has lastly grow to be an everyday starter for the New York Pink Bulls. And whereas that crew struggles for offense at instances, Harper is a shiny spot. On Wednesday, he had an excellent recreation total and scored an equalizing aim because the Pink Bulls fought again from a 2-0 deficit for a 2-2 draw. Harper’s aim accomplished the comeback.

— New York Pink Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) June 22, 2023

Different MLS youth notes

Latest U.S. U-20 World Cup midfielder Owen Wolff went 90 minutes for Austin in a 3-0 win over FC Dallas in an excellent efficiency.

Regardless of the 1-0 loss on the street to LAFC, Seattle defensive midfielder Obed Vargas, 17, was stable. Cody Baker, 19, is an Olympic eligible proper again and he went 63 for Seattle within the loss.

Within the Pink Bulls 2-2 draw with Charlotte, Olympic-eligible midfielder Peter Stroud gave method at halftime together with his crew down 2-0 whereas Dan Edelman got here on on the break and was a part of the comeback.

Chris Brady made some massive saves for Chicago within the 2-1 win over Portland away.

Caleb Wiley was quiet for Atlanta in his 63 minutes within the 2-2 draw with NYCFC.

Niko Tsakiris had a troublesome recreation for San Jose and was pulled on the half of a 4-1 loss away to Houston.

Olympic eligible Justin Haak (enjoying central protection) and Tayvon Grey (enjoying at proper again) additionally went 90 minutes for NYCFC within the draw.

Additionally, congratulations to Stiven Jimenz – who’s 15 years outdated. He made his debut within the dying minutes of FC Cincinnati’s 3-0 win over Toronto FC. Gerardo ‘Dado’ Valenzuela, 18, additionally come on for Cincy.

FYI, Stiven Jimenez is 15 years outdated. https://t.co/gEL2jhDQFZ

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 22, 2023