The tallest players in MLS is set to face one of the smallest, as the Colorado Rapids head to Toronto FC this Saturday (5:00 p.m. MT - Altitude TV), and we could see quite the clash.
Rapids’ central defender, Axel Sjöberg, stands at six-foot-seven. The Swede, though, will face Italian ace Sebastian Giovinco. Giovinco is just five-foot-four, but has had a huge impact on the league since arriving in 2015.
To date, Giovinco has a staggering 48 goals and 35 assists in just 75 appearances. He has been a handful for most defenders in the league, and Sjöberg will have his work cut out to contain the man known as the ‘Atomic Ant’.
But, following an injury-stricken first half of the season, Sjöberg is desperate to make up for lost time, so where better than against one of the best players in the league, at one of the best teams in the league?
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Axel Sjoberg.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;"> |
<p align="center"><br><br><br><br><br><strong>vs.</strong></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Sebastian Giovinco.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;"> |
<p align="center">Axel Sjöberg</p> |
<strong>Name</strong> |
<p align="center">Sebastian Giovinco</p> |
<p align="center">44</p> |
<strong>No.</strong> |
<p align="center">10</p> |
<p align="center">Defender</p> |
<strong>Position</strong> |
<p align="center">Forward</p> |
<p align="center">26</p> |
<strong>Age</strong> |
<p align="center">30</p> |
<p align="center">6'7"</p> |
<strong>Height</strong> |
<p align="center">5'4"</p> |
<p align="center">210lbs</p> |
<strong>Weight</strong> |
<p align="center">135lbs</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/swedish-flag-large.jpg" style="opacity: 0.9; text-align: -webkit-center; width: 75px; height: 50px;"> |
<strong>Nationality</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/italian-flag-large.jpg" style="opacity: 0.9; text-align: -webkit-center; width: 75px; height: 50px;"> |
<p align="center">2015</p> |
<strong>First joined MLS</strong> |
<p align="center">2015</p> |
<p align="center">3rd season</p> |
<strong>MLS Experience</strong> |
<p align="center">3rd season</p> |
<p align="center">50</p> |
<strong>Appearances</strong> |
<p align="center">75</p> |
<p align="center">Sollentuna FF, Thunder Bay Chill</p> |
<strong>Previous clubs</strong> |
<p align="center">Juventus, Empoli, Parma</p> |
<p align="center">A hulking center back who enjoyed a breakout season in 2016. He was a finalist for Defender of the Year after helping the Rapids set defensive records. He is known for his positioning and organization, as well as being a threat on set pieces.</p> |
<strong>What they say …</strong> |
<p align="center">Short in stature but skillful, inventive and explosively quick, he spearheaded Toronto's qualification for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in club history in his first year, and earned MLS Golden Boot, MLS Newcomer of the Year and MLS MVP awards.</p> |
