For 21-year old Union fullback Olivier Mbaizo, the match against Vancouver Whitecaps was a learning moment -- and head coach Jim Curtin made the lesson clear: Remember you are a defender first!
Wednesday night, Mbaizo got an opportunity to show he is a fast learner, and he added some high-class playmaking skills to prove there is yet another level his game can still hit.
“He was in a really high advanced position," Curtin said on Tuesday when asked about Mbaizo's first start of 2019. "His starting point was high -- and maybe too high in some instances -- so we will talk with him on that, especially when you play Cincinnati who is looking to break in behind he’ll have to do some recovery sprinting.
"It’s a good thing, but something also we need to keep under wraps because it can’t be too much especially in the first 15 minutes where it’s maybe a better time to feel things out and remind him that he is a defender first and the goal is behind him is the message we’ve been reiterating. You can see his energy when he runs forward, he’s powerful and explosive and overall had a good performance and you can start to see is potential and aggressiveness going forward.”
The defender had to wait patiently for his time to shine with strong performances from Ray Gaddis and Kai Wagner leading one of the league's best defenses, but the latter's red card and subsequent additional one-game suspension put the spotlight on Mbaizo, and Wednesday night he basked in it. In the 63rd minute, the Cameroonian earned his first MLS assist by finding forward Kacper Przybylko in the box with a perfectly weighted cross.
"It's good to put the ball into the center and find a way to cross the ball and get it into the center and that what I did," Mbaizo said through a translator following the 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati.
The man on the end of the fullback's cross then raved about it to the media.
"Just a great ball from Mbaizo and just an easy header," Przybylko enthused. "I want to just thank you for this great ball. This ball, I wish every strike was this easy."
Mbaizo, Przybylko, and the rest of the Eastern Conference leading Union continue a busy stretch this weekend by playing host to New England Revolution on Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Talen Energy Stadium. With the Boys in Blue in first place, tickets for the match are fee free so get your tickets today!
