{"id":28661,"date":"2020-08-19T10:58:36","date_gmt":"2020-08-19T14:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=28661"},"modified":"2020-08-19T10:58:36","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T14:58:36","slug":"memorable-mls-is-back-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2020\/08\/19\/memorable-mls-is-back-moments\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Memorable Moments from the MLS is Back Tournament"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editorial<\/strong> \u2014 As Portland lifted the shiny and ridiculously named MLS is Back Cup<\/a>, the MLS community quickly turned their attention to what comes next. Before we move on from this once-in-a-lifetime tournament, let’s look back on five memorable MLS is Back moments.<\/p>\n

#5 \u2014 Union’s Brenden Aaronson Doops<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One thing this tournament will be remembered for is it’s 9:00 a.m. ET kickoff whistle for some games. Many speculated these early games were meant to make it easier for European audiences and scouts to watch games, but Don Garber denied that.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t our intent when we scheduled at nine,” Garber said in an interview.<\/a> “It was very focused on the weather and what we thought would be was the appropriate time to start, then take a large break during the hottest part of the day and get back in the evening.”<\/p>\n

Whether it was the intent or not, one particular young American talent, Brenden Aaronson, impressed enough that he is already seeing serious interest from European teams<\/a>. He’s even earned himself the nickname The “U.S. Havertz.”<\/a><\/p>\n

Aaronson had some terrific performances in the tournament, playing well every time he set foot on the field. But the moment that that will live in infamy and cemented his future move to Europe is this creative touch that opens him up to play this incisive assist:<\/p>\n

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Are you kidding us with that ABSOLUTE DIME from Brenden Aaronson? \ud83c\udfaf<\/p>\n

Sergio Santos gives @PhilaUnion<\/a> a 3-0 lead! #PHIvSKC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HoJWv3W2Jn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Understandably, and righteously so, the MLS twitter community went nuts<\/a>. Even the official Fox Soccer account quipped “Enjoy Brenden Aaronson in MLS while you still can.”<\/a><\/p>\n

#4 \u2014 Chicharito Scores in MLS (Finally)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez did not follow in the footsteps of former LA Galazy superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic in having a fairy tale debut<\/a>, failing to tally a single goal. In fact, the Mexican International failed to score in his first two MLS matches, and in the Galaxy’s first game of the MLS is Back tournament, had a kick from the penalty spot blocked and had a glaring miss from point blank range:<\/p>\n