Esmir Bajraktervic Scores First MLS Goal

Caleb Porter: "I love that he wasn’t tentative and he took initiative in that moment.”

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

Esmir Bajraktervic collected his first MLS goal right before heading to the final pre-Olympic camp for the U.S. Men’s Olympic team.

While Bajraktervic scored in Leagues Cup last year, he has yet to find the back of the net during MLS play.

That changed on Saturday when the 19-year-old settled a ball from Giacomo Vrioni before rocketing a right-footed shot past the Nashville goalkeeper.

The strike was so good that Mark-Anthony Kaye shined Bajraktarevic’s boot during the celebration.

Bajraktarevic’s tally was important because it gave the Revs a 2-0 lead on the road. Nashville ultimately scored on one of two PK attempts, and the game ended 2-1.

“Esmir, I’m so happy for him,” Porter said. “He’s a young kid, very talented and a lot of potential, but it’s very important in that role to be goal dangerous. As a winger, you have to produce goals.

“He’s been getting in really good spots, but we worked a lot on the [training] ground and in the film room just showing him little things to do. It’s funny, because actually the goal that he scored, he just took initiative. He made a decision and I love that in him, you know? I love that he wasn’t tentative and he took initiative in that moment.”

Bajraktarevic, who has lined up on the right, has been close to scoring recently, but couldn’t find the breakthrough.

Porter expressed confidence that the moment was coming during his press availability on Thursday.

“Esmir is going to [score goals], in those spots that he got in,” Porter said, referencing the New York City FC game. “He was probably our most impactful player getting in good spots.”

Bajraktervic proved his coach correct on the eve of linking up with the U.S. Men’s Olympic team. The attacker hopes to represent the Stars and Stripes in France this summer.

“It’s obviously a big thing,” Bajraktarevic said of the call-up during an interview with RevolutionSoccer.net. “It’s something I’ve been looking forward to all year and something I’ve been working towards. It’s definitely exciting.”