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Sergio Santos is getting a lot of votes for player of the week because goals get attention, but his hat trick performance was just one of many memorable shifts put in by the Philadelphia Union in their blowout win over Toronto FC on Saturday night.
Santos had a goal in the first and added two more in the second to lead the attack, but stars were not hard to find in a game that head coach Jim Curtin was practically understating when he called it their most complete performance.
Jamiro Monteiro has been on a tear lately and deserves attention yet again for so much more than his contribution to the score sheet even though his goal off a cheeky dummy from Brenden Aaronson was arguably the biggest goal of the night. Kai Wagner had his best game of the season going forward, serving up two of Santos’s goals on a platter with crosses that were virtually impossible to defend and the entire back line was virtually impenetrable. Mark McKenzie scoring off a corner was just another good sign for an offense that has added goals off set pieces to their arsenal. Aaronson had the aforementioned dummy and continued to turn counter attacks down the left flank into practically automatic goals.
It’s really hard to find too much fault on the night. Kacper Przybylko extended his goal draught but also set up two of the goals and Santos missed a couple chances but had a hat trick. Monteiro’s yellow card was costly because it means he will miss the next game but a night off against the Chicago Fire with Columbus Crew away coming on the weekend might not be the worst thing for Monteiro.
The Union are flying high and are in great shape, but there’s still plenty to play for in the next three games as they gear up for what could very well be a history-making post season for the team that is looking down at the rest of the league now in the standings.
What did you think of the individual performances? What was the most important play of the game, what surprised you most and what other comments do you have to share about the Toronto FC win? Fill out our Community Player Ratings poll.