Heading home Sporting Lisbon’s opener in the 51st minute at Olhanense, Fredy Montero recorded his sixth goal of the Portuguese season on Sunday. Sporting went on to post a 2-0 win, now sit second behind Porto with 10 points through four games, and have seen their preseason acquisition from Colombia surge to the top of the league’s scoring charts. In four appearances, Montero’s scored six times.
This goal was a bit of a gimme, an interesting attempt at zonal marking seeing Olhanense’s line fail to drop enough to make up the space between themselves and Montero. André Martins, who went on to scored Sporting’s second, also deserves a lot of credit for an excellent ball, but between poor defending, some possible tentativeness from the goalkeeper, or (the biggest culprit) a dubious non-call from the linesman, Fredy had it easy on this one:
You think Sporting Lisbon’s going to hesitate to pick up that $3.3 million buy clause? The Seattle Sounder is technically on loan to the Lisbon club, but with this hot start, he may be as good as gone.
It creates a bittersweet if misleading situation as it concerns the MLS view of this. When a player like Montero -- highly successful but also highly under-appreciated in MLS -- has this kind of success, some ask why the league couldn’t keep this kind of talent, particularly when the buy clause won’t break any records for league transfer fees.
Reality, however has seen Montero’s time in Seattle run its course. Both sides had their reasons for taking the next step. Seattle, leading the Western Conference, has done fine without their star, although it’s difficult to argue they wouldn’t be just as well off with him. Montero, on the other hand, has finally made the leap to Europe, something he’d opening talked about during his final season with the Sounders.
As a result, a the group of Seattle fans that stayed loyal to this franchise’s best player can take some pride in what one of their favorites is doing in Portugal. Others may be rethinking some of the nitpicking Montero was subjected to during his time in MLS.
