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Day 2 of matches at the MLS Player Combine saw 70 prospects take the field at Orlando City Stadium.
With Team Nemeziz claiming a 3-1 win over Team X in the first game, Team Predator took a narrow 1-0 over Team Tango in the second match of the day.
Here are three things that stood out Monday.
Goal-scoring centerbacks
Two defenders found the back of the net for their respective teams.
Andre Morrison of Hartford University scored for Team X during the first match. Though his team lost, his willingness to execute in the final third as a centerback, especially from a tight angle, was impressive.
Duke’s Markus Fjortoft was the other centerback that scored, netting Team Predator’s only goal in its 1-0 over Team Tango. The 6-foot-5 Norwegian defender was left unmarked and he connected with Rafael Santos’ corner kick to score from close range.
VAR used for the first time in Combine
The use of video assistant referee played a part during Monday’s action.
In the first game, head official Dave Barry signaled VAR to call a penalty kick in the 11th minute when Ben White of Team X appeared to push down Brian White of Team Nemeziz in the box.
After VAR ruled the infraction a penalty, Brian White scored the equalizer, giving his team a lead and momentum to push on for a 3-1 victory.
VAR made its presence in the final minutes of match 2. Shortly after Fjortoft scored to give Team Predator the lead, head referee Guido Gonzalez went to video assistance to determine if the Duke centerback extended his arm and touched the ball before the goal.
After review, Gonzalez officially whistled the goal in favor of Team Predator, which went on to win the match.
Generation adidas player makes last-minute impact
It may have not been his best game, but Mason Toye of Indiana University notched an assist during Team Nemeziz 3-1 win. The 19-year-old sped past a defender to play a pass to Marcelo Acuna for the team’s final goal of the game.