A lot goes down on the pitch in any given match. Each week, we’ll be talking to one player about one specific play from last week’s match and letting them give an inside view of the play as it developed.
This week, rookie Carter Manley takes a look at a strong defensive play in front of the net from last week’s match against New York Red Bulls. Manley got his first MLS start in the match and had to quickly get up to speed with a brand new backline. Good defense might not be as viscerally compelling as a goal, but it takes a particular mix of spatial awareness, communication, anticipation and action to come together.