Soccer is a team sport, but there is a heavy reliance on individuals winning personal battles across the field. Here we look at two players expected to clash throughout this Saturday’s opening game of the 2017 season - the Rapids central defender Axel Sjöberg and New England’s much-traveled center forward, Kei Kamara.
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<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/sjoberg.jpg" style="width: 350px; height: 352px;"> |
<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/kei.jpg" style="opacity: 0.9; width: 350px; height: 350px;"> |
<p><strong>Name:</strong> Axel Sjöberg<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Flag_of_Sweden.svg.png" style="width: 50px; height: 31px; margin: 3px; float: right;"><br><strong>No.:</strong> 44<br><strong>Position:</strong> Defender<br><strong>Age:</strong> 25<br><strong>Height:</strong> 6’7”<br><strong>Weight:</strong> 210lbs<br><strong>Nationality:</strong> Swedish<br><strong>Drafted:</strong> 2015<br><strong>MLS experience:</strong> 3rd season<br><strong>Appearances:</strong> 45<br><strong>Goals:</strong> 2<br><strong>Honors:</strong> MLS Best XI (2016), MLS Defender of the Year finalist (2016)<br><strong>What they say …:</strong> Sjöberg is 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.</p>
He is known for his positioning and organization, as well as being a threat on set pieces. Made 31 appearances (all starts) in 2016, and netted his first two goals in MLS - a winner at Seattle and a late, late equalizer at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. |
<p><strong>Name:</strong> Kei Kamara<img alt="" src="https://colorado-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/Flag_of_Sierra_Leone.svg.png" style="width: 50px; height: 33px; margin: 3px; float: right;"><br><strong>No.:</strong> 23<br><strong>Position:</strong> Forward<br><strong>Age:</strong> 32<br><strong>Height:</strong> 6’3”<br><strong>Weight:</strong> 190lbs<br><strong>Nationality:</strong> Sierra Leonean<br><strong>Drafted:</strong> 2006<br><strong>MLS experience:</strong> 11th season<br><strong>Appearances:</strong> 255<br><strong>Goals:</strong> 86<br><strong>Honors:</strong> MLS Best XI (2015), MLS MVP finalist (2015), MLS All-Star (2015)<br><strong>What they say …:</strong> Kamara is a center forward who has terrorized MLS defenses with elite athleticism, dominant aerial ability and superlative one-touch finishing - talents which have set him apart from other strikers throughout his MLS career.</p><p>His 22-goal 2015 season was the high watermark for his career, while also helping Columbus Crew SC reach the MLS Cup final.</p> |
