The young Chilean has two game-winning goals in two games
No one really knew much about Jeisson Vargas when he came to Montreal this offseason. The young Chilean joined the Bleu-blanc-noir in January from Chilean club Universidad Católica where he played professionally since 2014. He had originally joined the club’s academy at 14 years old and made his professional debut at 17.
We know a little more about him now, for instance how he likes to score big goals in important games.
For two straight games, Jeisson Vargas has been the difference for the Impact, scoring the game winner against Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC in 1-0 shutout wins, and combining well up top with Argentine Ignacio Piatti.
“I’m very impressed by Jeisson,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “He has a lot of qualities. He’s very good at keeping the ball in difficult situations against good opponents because he’s at ease with the ball at his feet. If you’re in trouble, you can give him the ball and he’ll get out of tight spaces.”
“Jeisson is a very enthusiastic player,” said head coach Rémi Garde. “He loves to play and it’s refreshing. Not just play games, but also pass the ball in training and combine with his teammates. He’s discovering a difficult league where we play games all the time, and he doesn’t have many seasons behind him, so there’s still work to do, but he’s an interesting player.”
Jeisson has played the last two games alongside Nacho Piatti up top in a 3-5-2 formation. The South American tandem has proven effective so far, complementing each other well and creating key opportunities. Nacho Piatti even provided both assists on Jeisson’s goals.
“We’re finding each other well,” said midfielder Nacho Piatti. “Scoring two goals in three games is very important for his confidence and mentality. It’ll push him to continue in this direction and keep working hard. I’m happy with how he’s started the season, it’s great for him and for the team.”
If adapting to a new country without speaking either official language is difficult, scoring a few important goals against hated opponents makes the process a little easier. The Montreal locker room also has no shortage of Spanish speaking players, with the likes of Nacho Piatti, Víctor Cabrera, and even Samuel Piette helping the young forward adapt linguistically. Not to mention the coaching staff is there to ensure these players are in an optimal environment to be successful.
“He’s discovering a new lifestyle here, so he needs to be vigilant,” added Garde. “The staff and I, we’re here to help him stay focused on his objectives and on what he’s capable of doing.”
Let’s hope the goals keep coming for Jeisson Vargas. The Impact will be back in action Friday night against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium, at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
