After 59 MLS games in three seasons with the New York Red Bulls, Chris Duvall is now a Montreal Impact player. Duvall, a right back that can also slide into the heart of the defence on occasion, has had some really fine moments in MLS already. Here are some of them:
May 27, 2014 – Duvall off the line!
The Red Bulls pay a visit to Sporting Kansas City, and seconds into the encounter, the visitors are feeling the heat. A useful combination down the right releases Sporting full back Igor Julião. Over on the other side, Duvall has to track back quickly, because Sal Zizzo is running down the left. Goalkeeper Luis Robles challenges Julião, who tries to chip him, but Duvall covers for his teammate and saves the attempt off the line!
September 13, 2014 – Assist no. 1
On this September afternoon, the grass at Philadelphia’s PPL Park is soaked – a rainstorm has delayed the game for an hour. But even after kickoff, the game doesn’t quite pick up rhythm until Péguy Luyindula finally scores on a penalty kick in the 37th minute. Three minutes later, Duvall makes the most out of the tricky playing surface: he sends a deceptive cross to the edge of the area, where Thierry Henry volleys it home past Zac MacMath. Duvall thus picks up his very first MLS assist – and the goal-scorer ain’t too shabby.
June 28, 2015 – A well-timed first goal
After winning the first game against their new cross-town rivals in Harrison, the Red Bulls go to Yankee Stadium to face NYCFC. The blue half of New York opens the scoring only six minutes in through Thomas McNamara, a lead that it keeps until just after halftime. Bradley Wright-Phillips makes it 1-1 in the 47th minute – because of course—, and who scores the winner five minutes later? Chris Duvall. City clears the first delivery on a free kick, but Mike Grella recovers the ball and crosses for Anatole Abang, who flicks it at the near post. Duvall drives forward and volleys the ball into the roof of the net. The Red Bulls bench goes crazy, and the visitors would add a third to win 3-1.
September 11, 2016 – Tenacity and transition
The sequence that you’ll view below didn’t lead to a goal, but it shows the kind of work that Duvall can take care of. As the Red Bulls try to keep the pressure into the D.C. United half, Damien Perrinelle coughs up the ball at the central line on Duvall’s side – and the right back is stuck in the attacking half. But Duvall recognizes the situation and promptly races back. He first gets in the way of Lamar Neagle, and he keeps working hard until he wins the ball back from Nick DeLeon. Duvall falls to the ground, gets back up, picks up a short Sean Davis pass and moves the ball forward to Sacha Kljestan. Seconds later, Daniel Royer comes agonizingly close to scoring the third New York goal.
