When Philadelphia Union signed Borek Dockal, they knew they were getting an intelligent player who could provide the final pass to unlock tight defenses. They also knew they were getting a veteran presence who would learn about the league and continue to improve as he figured out how to operate within Jim Curtin's system.
Even though the Union front office and Dockal's teammates knew these things about the Czech playmaker, they were still in awe of his dominating performance against Vancouver Whitecaps on Sebastien Le Toux's Ring of Honor night, the highlight of a month in which Dockal was voted the Union's best player by fans.
By choosing Dockal as Player of the Month, the Union faithful were rewarding a player who desperately wanted to remain on the pitch after his team went down two men in Atlanta, and who constantly pushed the team forward as they sought an equalizer against Toronto a week later. When MLS play resumed after the World Cup break, Dockal came flying out of the gates, hanging two goals on Vancouver Whitecaps and generally slicing up the visitors' defensive block like it was cheese being prepped for a famous Philly sandwich.
Dockal's standout moment of the month was his second goal against Vancouver. Sneaking into a small pocket of space at the top of the box, the Czech man received the ball and turned away from Brek Shea so quickly that the Whitecaps' defender was left dangling his foot at nothing like a man doing the hokey-pokey while soccer was played around him. Jose Aja was next to flail haplessly as Dockal maneuvered the ball away from the big center back and wound up to shoot.
Perhaps one of the more surprising things about Dockal since his arrival is that he can shoot for power with either foot, and Brian Rowe stood no chance once the 29-year old had lined himself up for a finish. Dockal's left foot met the ball with venom, and the resulting rocket could have carried Vancouver back to the west coast itself, saving everyone a plane ticket.
After missing the Los Angeles FC match due to personal reasons, Dockal will look to help Philly avenge their early June loss to Atlanta United when the Five Stripes roll into Talen Energy Stadium this weekend.
