Two teams who like to use width in attack, both D.C. United and the New England Revolution boast attacking-minded fullbacks and wingers who can cut inside and create chances.
United right back Sean Franklin has earned plenty of recognition for his two-way play, including 2008 Rookie of the Year honors with the LA Galaxy and selection to the 2014 MLS All-Star team in his first season with the Black-and-Red. The Panorama City, CA, native knows how to score, too, having notched a career-high 4 goals in his 2011 season with the Galaxy. More recently, Franklin has enjoyed his role up the right flank for the Black-and-Red, often combining with right winger Patrick Nyarko or central midfielders Nick DeLeon and Marcelo to break down the opposition defense.
On the opposite side of the field, left back Taylor Kemp is known for getting forward and serving in dangerous crosses with his left foot. The University of Maryland product has proved to be one of United’s most consistent and effective players, leading the team in touches and tackles three games each this season. In addition to his strong defensive workrate, Kemp recorded the second-highest number of assists of any United player last year with six and scored the MLS Goal of the Week against Real Salt Lake.
The Revs, who have used a 4-2-3-1 formation in recent games, likewise rely heavily on the forward ventures of outside backs Tierney and London Woodberry, who consistently get themselves into advanced positions, making overlapping runs and sending dangerous services into the box. So prevalent is the New England fullbacks’ presence in the attack that Tierney--who assisted on Teal Bunbury’s goal last week against Orlando City--leads the team in combined crosses and corners (9) and has led all Revolution players in all seven of New England’s matches. With one or the other of the Revs fullbacks often hugging the touchline in and around the final third, attacking outside midfielders Diego Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe have a tendency to drift inside, making for a versatile and varied attack. Fagundez, who at 21 is part of a new generation of young players choosing to cultivate their game in MLS, already has two assists and two goals on the year, including a long-range strike against the Houston Dynamo. The ability of Fagundez and right-side counterpart Rowe to drift inside and create chances helps make the Revs’ attack threatening not only for its pace but for its unpredictability.
United, too, benefit from the play of multidimensional wingers. Patrick Nyarko and Lamar Neagle, who recently shared league-wide accolades themselves--Neagle was named to the Team of the Week for his assist on Nyarko’s Goal-of-the-Week nominated header against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 2--like to move liberally within the final third. Nyarko, who joined United this offseason from the Chicago Fire, has been one of the Black-and-Red’s most consistent and dangerous players this season. The Ghanaian-born Virginia Tech product has given many defenders headaches with his inventive 1v1 ability, beating his man seemingly at will at times and drawing numerous free kicks--he’s ninth among MLS players for fouls suffered in 2016 (fellow United player Marcelo is 7th). Nyarko also excels in combining with teammates, often tucking inside for Franklin or one of the central midfielders to attack up the wing, and in the process becoming a creative outlet centrally.
Neagle, also an offseason signing, has impressed early on with his versatility, having played at times both as a forward and out wide. Most recently, he’s seemed to have found a home on the left wing, and is dangerous both providing services from wide and cutting in on his right foot and having a shot on goal. In addition to his Team of the Week-worthy assist, Neagle scored the club’s opening goal of 2016 against the LA Galaxy, and has 10 shots on the season.
