Goodmorning folks,

This is Nutmeg Soccer. Where we serve you MLS & USMNT insights like your favorite childhood snack. Gushers, anyone?

• 7️⃣ Matchweek 7 Recap

• 🟢 What’s Wrong with the Sounders?

• 🎲 Trivia

• ❓️Where’s Cucho?

• ⚽️ Goal of the Week

• 😂 Tweet of the Week

Matchweek 7 Recap

Djorde Mihailavic’s Coming Out Party

The USMNT midfielder and club record signing had a brace and an assist, including this free-kick bullet. LAFC went up 1-0 and 2-1 only for the Rapids to come back each time and win it in the 89’ with Djorde’s second goal.

LAFC’s 18-year-old Venezuelan winger David Martinez had quite the shift:

• Subbed on in the 63'

• Scored a brilliant solo goal in the 76’

• Received his first yellow card in the 78’

• Got sent off with a second yellow in the 85’.

Austin Finally Win

We’d have to go back to October 3rd, 2023 to get Austin’s last win. After starting the season a dismal 0W-3L-2D, Austin fans brought a WOLFF OUT banner to this match to voice their opinion on their head coach. Austin responded with their first complete outing of the year, dominating 68% of the possession and beating Texas rival FC Dallas 2-1. Captain, Sebastian Driussi put in his first full 90’ shift of the season and assisted Diego Rubio’s match-winner. They’ll play San Jose at home next week to go for two straight.

Chicho’s Hat Trick

The hardest thing to do in soccer is put the ball in the back of the net and Chicho has an innate ability to do that. He’s a thoroughbred goal scorer. This was Real Salt Lake’s first hat trick since 2018. Salt Lake is quietly third in the West and will be a tough play every week.

St. Louis City is tied for the second most goals allowed (11) in the West behind only San Jose (13).

What’s Wrong with the Sounders?

The Sounder’s season has started about as bleak as a rainy winter day in the Emerald City. Two points through five games leave them dead last in the Western Conference and one of only two teams without a win yet (New England Revolution the other poor soul). They’ve tied their worst start to a season ever and only have 4 goals.

So what’s the problem? The team can’t freaking score. I know what you’re saying… “no shit, Sherlock” but really look at their Non-Penalty Expected Goals Per shot stat below — .057. That ain’t good😬. Their open play non-penalty expected goals and big chances created are also below average. It’s at least a good sign that they’re producing shots at an above average rate.

The team clearly misses the quality in the final third that a player like Pedro de la Vega can bring once back from injury (hopefully later this month).

This is a squad that was picked by many “experts” to finish atop the Conference. They’re going to need a big turnaround but there’s still plenty of season left to make that happen. Don’t count them out yet.

Trivia!

Alrighty we’ve got some trivia for ya!

The Athletic did their annual survey of 30 CSO’s (Chief Soccer Officers) from around the league and polled them on a variety of questions. So we’re quizzing you on who the experts think the most underrated player is in the MLS.

Hint: This is the winner’s second year in a row winning.

Answer: Scroll down for the top 5 in order

Where’s Cucho❓️ 

Columbus Crew fans have been playing their own version of Where’s Waldo this week.

Star striker Cucho Hernandez missed his second straight game last night and no one has any idea why. When asked about his absence on Saturday Wilfried Nancy said it was “Team Policy” and declined to comment further.

Cucho was visibly upset last weekend after being subbed off by acting head coach Kwame Ampadu and started walking straight to the locker room before deciding to join the rest of the team on the bench. Many are theorizing that his absence is due to disciplinary reasons because of this.

Crew fans just want answers.

Goal of the Week

Was this a scissor or a bike? Idk but it was sick😍 

Tweet of the Week

🤣🤣 

Quick Hits

• San Diego FC in advanced talks with AS Monaco to name Carlos Avina their first Sporting Director (Link)

• LAFC sign 39-year-old Kei Kamara with an option for 2025 (Link)

• Lorenzo Insigne is out for 6 weeks (Link)

• FC Cincinnati sign Yamil Asad (Link)

Trivia Answer: Christian Roldan (Sounders), Ryan Gauld (Whitecaps), Aidan Morris (Crew), Jose Martinez (Union), and Darlington Nagbe (Crew). Reply to this email with how many you guessed correctly.

Let’s chat again next week. Until then, get outta the house and kick around a soccer ball why don’t ya.