Two players have separated themselves from the rest of Major League Soccer in the race for MVP this season, and the Red Bulls will be facing both of them in two of their next three games.
Forward Kei Kamara of the Columbus Crew and forward/midfielder Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto FC have combined to lead MLS in most major offensive categories, and when MVP votes are counted at season’s end their names will likely be 1-2 for the award.
Against the Red Bulls, Kamara has done the most damage, and he’ll have to be kept in check when the Red Bulls host the Crew Saturday night at Red Bull Arena.
“They’ve had the two best years. I wouldn’t say they’re the two best players (in MLS), but for sure they’ve had the two best seasons,” Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch said. “For sure, Kei Kamara benefits from the way that Columbus plays. He’s a good player and I’ve known him for a while, and I’ve always liked him as a player and he’s a really good guy, so I’m happy to see him successful, but Kei Kamara has landed in a great spot because he fits their system and Columbus is very happy to have him because that was one of their missing pieces.”
Giovinco, who will face the Red Bulls Oct. 14 in Toronto, has 20 goals and a league-high 15 assists in his first year in MLS, but he was held scoreless Aug. 15 when the Red Bulls beat Toronto, 3-0, at Red Bull Arena.
Kamara started his MLS career with the Crew in 2006, played two seasons and scored just five goals. He then bounced around a bit, spending time with the San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo before playing four-plus years with Sporting Kansas City. He spent a year playing in England but returned to MLS this season and was selected by the Crew via the allocation process.
Kamara had only scored in double figures twice, 10 goals in 2010 with the then-Kansas City Wizards and 11 goals in 2012 with SKC. This year, Kamara has 22 goals and eight assists as the Crew (13-10-8) sit one point behind the Red Bulls for first place in the Eastern Conference.
“We have to emphasize taking care of Kei and where he shows up in the box specifically, but also what makes him so dangerous is the service he gets, so dealing with their outside backs when they push high and dealing with (midfielder) Ethan Finlay and (midfielder Justin) Meram,” Marsch said. “(It’s a) big task, two teams that are at the top of the table in the East. We know how big a game it is so it will be a great game.”
Kamara was held scoreless March 28 when the Red Bulls won, 2-1, but had two assists when the Crew won, 2-1, July 4. Both games were in Columbus, Ohio.
With Matt Miazga receiving a red card against Orlando, he will miss two regular-season games, and at least two more playing with the United States Under-23 team as they look to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games. Ronald Zubar, who has been injured much of the season, will replace Miazga.
“This is a really, really good opportunity for Ronald to establish himself and show everything that he’s about,” Marsch said. “I think very highly of him. I know that our team does. It’s just that Damien (Perrinelle) and Matt have done so well, and the silver lining of Matt being gone and out is that Ronald gets a chance to show everything he’s about.”
Marsch said central defender Karl Ouimette, who scored two goals in extra time when Red Bulls II defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 4-2, in the team’s inaugural USL playoff match on Saturday, will be on the bench for the match with the Crew even though RB II has another playoff match the same day.
As for outside back, Connor Lade had a subpar performance against Orlando and a change could be made there against the Crew – possibly Sal Zizzo – but Marsch was quick to defend Lade.
“I think that’s a little unfair to Connor,” he said. “I think Connor’s been really good since he stepped in. He’s helped us for a big stretch of the season. We were on a run where we were winning an awful lot of games with Connor. We’ve made a couple of little reminders to Connor and let him know to continue to have confidence and belief and let him know that we have confidence and belief in him.
Sal certainly has done well and he’s adjusted well to the right back position. He provides a little something different. He’s probably more of an offensive threat, but it’s important that whoever plays there can help shore up things defensively.”
