When Alphonso Davies left to wrap up his transfer to Bayern Munich, there was talk he’d skip the rest of the 2018 MLS season with the Vancouver Whitecaps and just train with Bayern until he waseligible to play in Germany in January 2019.
It’s a good thing he didn’t.
The 17-year-old returned to the ‘Caps after missing their last three games and put a jaw-droppingperformance, scoring two goals with incredible dribbling moves and assisting on two other goals in a 4-2 win over Minnesota United, which had come into the game with a three-game winning streak.
The goal he scored against D.C. United in his previous outing two weeks ago was a stunner, but he topped that — twice — on Saturday night at B.C. Place.
The Minnesota Uniteddefense had already been embarrassed on the first Vancouver goal scored by Yordi Reyna when .@AlphonsoDavies with the finish — Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29,2018
After Minnesota United had come back from 3-0 down to make it 3-2, Daviesfinished the scoring, pulling the same move, driving right at Collin Martin and then cutting the ball back to break free and fire a left-footed shot past keeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
Alphonso Davies with the #VANvMINhttps://t.co/eV6qXo1urK
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29,2018
All this after Vancouver coach Carl Robinson said Davies’ first 20minutes were as bad as he’d ever seen him play. “But I kept him on and I’m glad I did,” added Robinson, saying the emotion of the transfer had taken a toll on his 17-year-old star.
Davies now have five goals and a team-high 10 assists in 2018 after not scoring in MLS play in his first two seasons with the ‘Caps and recording only one goal.
“We know he’s got ability,he’s got potential,” said Robinson, “but when he keeps playing like that, that’s not potential. That’s reality.”
Reality that MLS fans will get to see for at least three more months.
Davies picked up a loose ball about 30 yards out from goal, ran straight at Minnesota United’sMichael Boxall on a yellow card, leaving him standing when he pulled the ball back and around him, and then drove past four Loons defenders to make it 2-0.