Giacomo Vrioni Has Breakthrough Performance Against CF Montreal
His first goal of the season was a much needed boost to his confidence
Life in MLS hasn’t been easy for Giacomo Vrioni. He struggled to adjust after being acquired in the middle of the 2022 season and he has found it difficult to get playing time so far in 2023. New England’s 4-0 win over CF Montreal could be where things change for him.
Vrioni once again came off the bench for the Revolution but he was able to find the back of the net for the first time this season. It was a great individual effort that even included a Djordje Petrovic assist.
The Designated Player received the ball from the goalkeeper and was able to slot his shot into the bottom corner of the net. Vrioni lept into the air in excitement and also followed off with the Erling Haaland (or Zava?) celly.
“It’s huge,” DeJuan Jones said of Vrioni’s goal. “He had a really great week of training so I’m happy he got a good run out today and to cap it off with a goal was great. So, I hope he can continue to build on this week and continue to score more goals for us.”
Vrioni’s only start of the season so far has been in the season opener against Charlotte FC. Since then Vrioni has played just over 100 minutes including a 28-minute stint off the bench against Montreal.
While the goal is great news for the 24-year-old, it doesn’t mean that he is now going to be thrust into the starting XI. Bobby Wood also scored against Montreal and continues to impress with his stellar hold-up play.
Wood and DP striker Gustavo Bou have developed some great chemistry and have excelled when on the pitch together. One goal won’t have Bruce Arena rethinking his starting XI.
The head coach and sporting director preaches patience in a lot of areas when it comes to soccer and Vroini is no exception.
“The transition has been challenging for [Vrioni]. And you know, he's slowly getting better,” Arena said. “We've seen over the last two or three weeks he's improving, so tonight will be good for his confidence for sure.”
Whether fair or not, strikers’ success will be determined by the number of goals they score. Vrioni desperately needed to find the back of the net and he took advantage of the chance he got against CF Montreal.
Revolution fans will be hoping that this is just the start for the DP but Saturday’s goal was the most important of his young career.
May have been against one of the worst teams but the goal had to be a weight lifted off his shoulders. Hope this will give Vrioni some more playing time.
I’m reminded of how long it took Buksa to find his form. Granted this was against arguably the worst team in the league but if Vrioni can create his own goals like that on a regular basis he will be better than Buksa