The best performances in US football for 2022: John McCarthy's MVP heroics, Alyssa Naher's big saves and more

From multi-goal games to standing-on-head goalie play, this year has been full of outstanding performances in American soccer. Some of the best performances came at the most important times of the year. It certainly makes sense, but it doesn’t always work that way. In 2022, however, several players made the most of the biggest stage and made it onto our list of the best performances of the year.

MLS Cup, 5 November

John McCarthy was born and raised in Philadelphia. He played college football in Philadelphia. He later played four seasons in the union organization, mostly as an MLS-level backup or starter for USL affiliate Bethlehem Steel. McCarthy, a Philadelphia man who knew his opponents well, came in when he picked up a horrific injury in the second half. As LAFC won its first title, McCarthy ultimately caused no small amount of distress in his hometown, saving two penalty kicks and being named MLS Cup MVP.

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World Cup Group Stage, 25 November

In fact, I could have named any of Adams’ group stage performances for the USA at the World Cup. That’s how important the midfielder has been in all three of his games. His defensive work-rate, resilience, and leadership all enabled the United States to deliver results in a tight, high-pressure game. Adams’ performance against England made this list simply because he was the highest-level opponent the United States has faced in the group stage.Adams outscored Iran by his six goals to give a world-class England attack. almost completely impeded the He led all players in his eight recoveries and made many key defensive his plays to keep the points scored by the United States in a 0–0 draw.

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Friendly, November 13th

The US Women’s National Team easily qualified for next year’s World Cup midway through 2022, but the team ended the year in historically bad shape. They lost his third straight for the first time since 1993. We lost in England and Spain and at home to Germany. It was his first time in five years that the USWNT lost at home. America escaped her fourth straight loss thanks to Neher’s efforts. Naeher made a big save in the second half as America lost 1–0 to her, but a few minutes later Sophia Smith scored the equalizing goal and Mal Her Pugh scored the winner’s minute. afterwards. Nahar was solid for the rest of the game as the United States witnessed a potentially momentum-changing result.

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World Cup Qualifiers, March 27

The United States needed to win all but guarantee a return to the World Cup. Christian Pulisic scored two of his penalties in his 5–1 victory over Panama on his second day since the final day of World Cup qualifiers and as part of his trick the Hutts. did. By probably the best international goal he ever scored.

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Sophia Smith, Portland Thorns vs. Kansas City Currents

NWSL Championship, Oct. 29

Like Adams, you could pick any number of Sophia Smith games in a year when she scored 29 goals in 42 appearances (40 starts) in all club and country competitions. Her dominating performance in the NWSL her championship came just four minutes into the game when she took advantage of a defensive error to score the title-winning goal. symbolic celebration soon), and subsequently became Portland’s main threat in games they dominated. Smith led all players in his ten shot-making actions in this game. That’s seven more for him than anyone else, and he also tops the list for successful dribbles (3) and expected assists (0.3). Smith has scored more goals in more impressive fashion in many games in 2022, but rarely has he been so dominant on such a crucial stage.

.@sophsssmith put @ThornsFC Get up early 👀#NWSLC Championship | | #BAONPDX pic.twitter.com/AJsIsB9r5S

— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) October 30, 2022

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Team Award: Five consecutive wins for the Philadelphia Union

MLS Regular Season, August 20 — September 10

6-0, 6-0, 4-1, 2-0, 5-1 — The score line is almost there for this ridiculously dominant five-game stretch for the Union, with an aggregate score of 23-2. speaks for itself. Those 23 goals are the most goals scored in five games by an MLS team in league history and contributed significantly to his 72 league-high goals scored by Union in 2022. The best in league history. The Coalition showed their ability to win by large margins at various points throughout the year, but in this run they brought it all together.