Matchday 34 may have lasted longer than normal for the Loons this weekend (thank you, rain delay), but that didn’t stop Robin Lod from showing SKC what he’s capable of. MNUFC’s longest-serving Finn and all-time leading goal scorer put in an impressive performance Saturday night, earning himself a place on the Team of the Matchday for the fourth time this season.
Despite coming into the match as a halftime substitute after a nearly two-hour weather delay, Lod found space in the midfield and made it his own. In a game that had become stretched and a bit lackadaisical, Lod’s quality on the ball and playmaking ability stood head and shoulders above the rest, with a pair of assists changing the game completely and unlocking a stubborn SKC defense.
His first assist of the night was finished off beautifully by Kelvin Yeboah, a move that started with Lod winning the ball at the center circle and slotting his striker through the back line with an incisive ball. The second of the night came late, when Lod redirected Wil Trapp’s pass directly to Bongokuhle Hlongwane behind the line for the game-sealing goal. Quality over quantity is preferred in most things in life, but if you can achieve both, why not do it?
This is Lod’s first TOTM inclusion since Matchday 15. After a fantastic start to the year saw him earn three honors and a spot on the MLS All-Star team, the Finnish playmaker cooled off a bit, but a player of his quality is always capable of finding form again. With just four games remaining in the regular season and the playoffs looming, there’s no better time to get the best out of this midfield maestro. Well done, Robin; let’s keep it going!
F: Patrick Agyemang (CLT), Sam Surridge (NSH), Logan Farrington (DAL)
M: Quinn Sullivan (PHI), Coco Carrasquilla (HOU), James Sands (NYC), Gabriel Pec (LA)
D: Max Arfsten (CLB), Reggie Cannon (COL), Luca Orellano (CIN)
GK: Brad Guzan (ATL)
Coach: Chris Armas (COL)
Bench: Steve Clark (HOU), John Tolkin (RBNY), Robin Lod (MIN), Caden Clark (MTL), Riqui Puig (LA), Diego Luna (RSL), Dániel Gazdag (PHI), Pep Biel (CLT), Cucho Hernández (CLB)
