Stephen Eustáquio scored his first goal in Major League Soccer. Plus, Ismaël Koné helped Sassuolo to an improbable win, while Ali Ahmed and Norwich City picked up a key three points.
Stephen Eustáquio, Los Angeles FC
Canada soccer watchers have been beating the drum for months that Stephen Eustáquio's lack of playing time at Porto was worrisome as the World Cup approaches. The Leamington, Ont. native is as key as he is to Canada's fortunes.
With the winter transfer window being his last chance at a move before the summer, there were sighs of relief when the 29-year-old midfielder joined Los Angeles FC on loan, linking up with a Canadian contingent at the club that also includes Mathieu Choiniere (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.), Jacob Shaffelburg (Kentville, NS), Ryan Raposo (Hamilton, Ont.), Thomas Hasal (Cambridge, Ont.) and new manager Marc Dos Santos (Montreal).
After a 3-0 thrashing of MLS Cup holders Inter Miami on Matchday 1 in which Eustáquio played a full 90 minutes, LAFC hit the road to take on Houston Dynamo.
The first big moment of the match came in first-half stoppage. With LAFC probing in the Houston half, the ball came to Son Heung-min with his back to goal. As he received the ball, he was fouled by Antonio Carlos. Referee Jon Freemon immediately produced a straight red. Replays showed that Carlos stomped on the Tottenham Hotspur legend's Achilles and the sending off was warranted.
The visitors broke the deadlock a little over 10 minutes into the second half thanks to a former Toronto FC man. After taking a corner short, Son found veteran midfielder Mark Delgado at the edge of the 18-yard box. An MLS Cup winner with TFC, Delgado unleashed a fine right-footed volley to beat the diving Jonathan Bond to make it 1-0 in the 56th.
If it weren't bad enough playing on 10 men, the Dynamo saw a further reduction in manpower in the 76th. Substitute Amin Boudri sent a fine through ball to spring Son behind the Houston backline. Before he could go 1-v-1 with Bond, he was hauled down by Agustin Bouzat. It was last man back, so Freemon had no choice but to send off the Dynamo midfielder, putting the home side on nine men.
Eustáquio would make them pay in the 82nd. From another short corner, Son set up Delgado in almost the exact same position. Instead of shooting this time, he squared up for Eustáquio, who took a running start and hammered home with his right foot from about 20 yards out.
It was Eustáquio's first career MLS goal and his first goal of any kind since a Europa League against Lazio on Nov. 11, 2024.
Ismaël Koné, Sassuolo
What could have, and maybe should have, been a bad loss at home on Sunday for Sassuolo turned into an improbable victory against a buoyant Atalanta side coming off of a big comeback in the Champions League.
In the match, Montreal's Ismaël Koné once again demonstrated why the Neroverdi were so keen on turning his loan move from Marseille into a permanent.
Returning to league play on Sunday, Atalanta was handed a major advantage early on in their match at Sassuolo. In the 16th minute as the visitors pressed for an opener, a Sassuolo clearance fell for Albania defender Berat Djimsiti. Before he could do anything with the ball, Andrea Pinamonti flew in with a reckless, studs-up challenge and was sent off immediately by referee Matteo Marchetti.
Ali Ahmed, Norwich City
Ali Ahmed and Norwich City picked up a key three points.