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Bořek Dočkal’s form for the Philadelphia Union carried over to his national team with a pair of assists in a 2-1 win over Slovakia on Saturday.
Dočkal, who leads Major League Soccer in assists this season with 17, set up Michal Krmencik’s opener in the 52nd minute with a pinpoint pass through the middle of the field into the box and after a 62nd minute equalizer found the head of substitute Patrik Schick on a cross from near the corner flag Schick headed home for the game-winner.
The assists were the 30-year-old midfielder’s first for his country since he had an assist in a World Cup qualifier against Norway in November 2016. He earned his 36th cap (and first in a calendar year) with his 29th career start for the senior national team. He now has six assists to go with five goals in his international career.
Assists on assists - Borek tallied 2 assists to lead @ceskarepre_cz to victory today #DOOP | #FearNoOne pic.twitter.com/O4ozmzCFVK
— x - Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) October 13, 2018
As exciting as it is to see a Union player doing so well on the international stage — in addition to the assists, Dočkal had a solid game rewarding his coach’s faith in giving him the captaincy — it complicates any efforts on the part of the Union to get him back wearing blue and gold next season.
The deal that brought him to Chester was a one-year loan without an option to buy, meaning the Union will have to re-negotiate with Henan Jianye, the Chinese Super League club that has him under contract. Henan Jianye paid a $9 million transfer fee to acquire him from Sparta Prague less than two years ago.
Dočkal is the highest paid player on the Union roster this season at $1.7 million.