Pro Soccer: With his assist, Obed Vargas becomes first Alaskan since 2008 to register a point in the MLS

Anchorage, Alaska (Alaska Sports activities Report) – At 17, Obed Vargas of Anchorage has already left an indelible mark on Alaska soccer.

Not solely has he performed in additional Main League Soccer video games than every other participant from the state, however the third-year professional with the Seattle Sounders lately turned the primary Alaskan since 2008 to register a degree after he earned an help on his staff’s solely aim in a 4-1 loss to the Portland Timbers.

Vargas began at midfielder and logged 80 minutes. Sitting on the opposing bench was Timbers’ backup goalkeeper Hunter Sulte of Anchorage.

No biggie, simply two titans of Alaska soccer on the identical subject within the nation’s premier league.

They symbolize two of the three Alaskans to play within the MLS. The opposite is Anchorage’s Ely Inexperienced, who in 2008 collected a aim and an help in 13 video games for the LA Galaxy.

    FROM ALASKA TO THE MLS
    Most profession appearances in common season
    18 – Obed Vargas, Seattle Sounders
    12 – Ely Allen, LA Galaxy
    2 – Hunter Sulte, Portland Timbers

Vargas has began 12 of his 18 profession appearances within the MLS common season and performed 74 minutes or extra in 9 of them.

In 2021, at 15, he turned the third-youngest participant to make his MLS debut. In 2022, he began 10 of 13 video games and furnished an 84.9 passing share.

This 12 months he’s performed in 4 video games for the Sounders (5-2-1) and picked up his first profession level final Saturday with a gorgeous centering go to arrange Raúl Ruidíaz’s aim within the 58th minute that gave Seattle a 1-0 lead at Windfall Park in Oregon earlier than a crowd of 25,218.

Vargas touched the ball twice within the run as much as the aim, first dribbling round a defender close to midfield earlier than passing off the ball after which persevering with his run up subject earlier than getting rewarded with a protracted go in the precise nook.

The Alaskan tracked it down and curled a one-touch crossing go to Ruidíaz who buried his shot into the left nook of the web. Onerous to consider by the appears of it, however that was Vargas’ first centering go within the MLS. It was cash.