Pukki throws the best parties, amiright?
First, it was fellow countryman Robin Lod’s performance in Matchday 2. Now, for Matchday 4, Finnish eyes will once again be smiling, this time upon striker Teemu Pukki. After a stellar performance saw him flash that famous scoring prowess twice in the first half to give the Loons the early advantage in their big 3-2 road win over a talented Orlando City squad, Pukki has partied his way into the starting XI for Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchday.
Party time popped off for Pukki at a perfect time, especially since it wasn’t long after Orlando’s stunning score just 15-seconds into the match. The striker would make an incredible head’s up play on an imperfect pass back to Orlando City keeper Pedro Gallese. The Finn pounced with Gallese under duress, darting in front of the keeper’s attempt to clear the ball, blocking it toward the goal and surgically placing it just beyond Gallese’s reach to bring the Loons even before the match clock even hit 5 minutes.
The aggressive attack that Loons fans have seen over the first few weeks of this season once again paid dividends in the 37th minute of the first half. That’s when the Finest Finn connection would link up after Robin Lod’s pass found Pukki. He turned and fired from just outside Orlando’s penalty box to find the net once again. That goal gave the Loons a 2-1 advantage that they would take into the half. Though it would be Bongi’s goal in stoppage time that would decide the match, Pukki’s first half party was instrumental to the Loons getting the better of their talented opponents for the massive win.
Congrats, Teemu, and party on!
MLS Team of the Matchday for Week 4:
F: Lorenzo Insigne (TOR), Giorgos Giakoumakis (ATL), Teemu Pukki (MIN)
M: Cole Bassett (COL), Riqui Puig (LA), Emil Forsberg (RBNY), Evander (POR)
D: Jordi Alba (MIA), Fernando Álvarez (MTL), Mo Farsi (CLB)
GK: Hugo Lloris (LAFC)
Coach: Laurent Courtois (MTL)
Bench: Alex Bono (DC), Ali Ahmed (VAN), Brooks Lennon (ATL), Mathieu Choinière (MTL), Thiago Almada (ATL), Célio Pompeu (STL), Antony (POR), Jacen Russell-Rowe (CLB), Duncan McGuire (ORL)
