Yura Movsisyan laid down an early marker for MLS players on international duty in the November window, after he scored four goals in 70 minutes of action on Friday.
The haul, coming in a 6-2 win over Gibraltar in UEFA Nations League League D group play, was a breakout performance for Movsisyan, who moved to the Chicago Fire in September but did not score in 58 minutes of action for the Men in Red after his arrival.
The win for Armenia gives them hope of promoting out of League D, although they will need to overtake Macedonia in Group 4 to move up for the next edition of the competition.
Movsisyan's Fire teammate, Nicolas Hasler, was also in action in that group, as Liechtenstein played to a 2-0 Nations League defeat at home to Macedonia on Friday. Hasler played the full 90 minutes for his country, but it was a disappointing result for the home side.
If Movsisyan's four goals set down the marker, Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender Kendall Waston made a charge of his own, scoring a brace for Costa Rica in their 3-2 friendly win over Chile on Friday. Waston's tallies gave the Ticos a 2-0 lead, before NYCFC'sRonald Matarrita scored what turned out to be the game-winner just after the hour mark. Despite a late rally by Chile, Costa Rica held on for the road win. Minnesota United defender Francisco Calvo played the full 90 for Costa Rica as well, and D.C. United defender Joseph Mora came off the bench late for the winning side.
Real Salt Lake playmaker Albert Rusnak was also in the goals, as he started the scoring for Slovakia in their Nations League 4-1 home rout over Ukraine on Friday. In spite of the win in League B Group 1, Slovakia are fighting against relegation to League C, and they'll face Borek Dockal's Czech Republic on Tuesday, with the team coming out on the wrong end in that clash going down for the next edition.
In other action, Carlos Gruezo and Ecuador posted a 2-0 road friendly win over Peru on Thursday. The FC Dallas midfielder played the full 90 for the winners, while Peru featured starters Yoshi Yotun (Orlando City) and Raul Ruidiaz (Seattle Sounders), with Andy Polo (Portland Timbers) and Yordy Reyna (Vancouver) coming off the bench.
And in another friendly full of MLS players, Honduras defeated their Central American rivals Panama 1-0 on Friday. Luis Lopez (LAFC), Maynor Figueroa (Dallas), Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo) and Romell Quioto (Houston) starting for the winning side. Panama, meanwhile, started Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes), Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Michael Murillo (RBNY), and Anibal Godoy (San Jose) in the match.
