Sebas Méndez is one of the premier defensive midfielders in MLS and a core piece of the Ecuadorian national team. But while he became known for his biting tackles, precise passing and high-level awareness, Méndez played his first 64 games for Orlando City without ever scoring a goal.
Turns out it was worth the wait.
Méndez’s wonderstrike would turn out to be the winning goal as Orlando City knocked off CF Montréal 2-0 and reached the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs for the second straight year, and the Ecuadorian was voted Heineken Man of the Match for his performance.
The goal was spectacular, but Méndez had a terrific game aside from his golazo. Méndez went 47 of 49 passing for a sparkling 95.9% completion rate, leading the team in both passes and completions. 29 of Méndez’s 49 passes occurred in the Montréal half.
In addition to marshalling the midfield, Méndez had a team-high eight ball recoveries, as well as a tackle and two clearances. He even blocked a shot on the night.
