Cowell to Chivas, Vazquez to Monterrey: What the Liga MX transfers mean
Within five days, two US men’s national team forwards have gone from MLS clubs to Liga MX giants.
FC Cincinnati acquired former Atlanta United FC forward Brandon Vazquez from Nashville SC via trade in exchange for $150,000 in 2020 Targeted Allocation Money on Nov. 19, 2019 following the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft in which Nashville selected Vazquez in the fourth round (eighth overall).
2022 (FC Cincinnati): Had a breakout season where he was co-led FC Cincinnati in goals and earned the Golden Boot delivered by Allegiant with Brenner … named to the MLS Best XI and was an MLS All-Star, both for the first time in his career … his impressive campaign started early when he became the first player in FCC history with braces in back-to-back games in March (5th at Orlando City SC, 12th vs. Inter Miami CF) … four times was recognized on the MLS Team of the Week … became the first player in club history to score in four straight games (7/23-8/13/22; vs NSH, at MIA, vs PHI, vs ATL) … scored his third brace of the year on July 30 at MIA … three times scored the game-winning goal for the Orange and Blue in the regular season, his first two coming in his braces in March, followed by his May 7th stoppage time winner at Minnesota United FC, the latest game-winning goal in club history … scored the game-winner for FC Cincinnati in the club’s first MLS Cup Playoff match on Oct. 15 at the New York Red Bulls, when he scored the 86th minute game-winner to complete the comeback … set career-highs in games played (33), starts (32), minutes (2,753), goals (18), assists (8), shots (82), and shots on target (40), the latter two set club records for most in a season.
2021 (FC Cincinnati): Made a career-high 31 appearances, including six starts, in a season where he totaled career-highs in goals (4) and assists (3) … made season debut at New York City FC (April 24), the first of 20 appearances to begin his season which all came off the bench, a mark which was the most appearances in a season before earning a start in MLS history … made his first start at his former club Atlanta United FC (Sept. 15) … in just 11 minutes off the bench scored and assisted another goal at D.C. United (Sept. 25) … also scored and assisted another vs. Chicago Fire FC (Oct. 20) … found the back of the net days later at Inter Miami CF (Oct. 23) … scored for the third consecutive game, a first in his MLS career, against Nashville SC on Oct. 27 … started the final five games of the season.
2020 (FC Cincinnati): Made 19 appearances, including eight starts, scoring two goals and adding two assists ... started and played 64 minutes in season opener at New York (March 1) ... recorded first FC Cincinnati assist on Allan Cruz’s 46th-minute strike ... was replaced by Jürgen Locadia in the second half ... played 10 minutes as a second-half substitute at New York (March 1) ... replaced Yuya Kubo in the second half ... played 16 minutes against Chicago Fire FC (Aug. 25) ... replaced Jürgen Locadia in the second half ... played 16 minutes against Columbus Crew SC (Sept. 6) ... replaced Siem de Jong in the second half ... scored first career goal with the Orange and Blue and played 17 minutes against New York City FC (Sept. 12) ... replaced Caleb Stanko in the second half ... made second start of the season and played 89 minutes against New York Red Bulls (Sept. 19) ... replaced by Caleb Stanko late in the second half ... started and played 68 minutes against Philadelphia Union (Sept. 23) ... replaced by Yuya Kubo in the second half ... started and played the full 90 minutes for the first time at New York City FC (Sept. 26) ... played 20 minutes as a second-half substitute at Minnesota United FC (Oct. 3) ... replaced Allan Cruz in the second half ... played 15 minutes at the Philadelphia Union (Oct. 7) ... replaced an injured Jürgen Locadia in the second half ... started and played 45 minutes against Toronto FC (Oct. 11) ... was replaced by Siem de Jong at halftime ... started and played 68 minutes against Columbus Crew SC (Oct. 14) ... was replaced by Rashawn Dally in the second half ... started and played 90 minutes against D.C. United (Oct. 18) ... scored second goal of the season and fifth in MLS career ... was unavailable against Minnesota United FC (Oct. 24) due to an injury ... played 10 minutes against Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 28) ... replaced Kamohelo Mokotjo in the second half ... started and played 64 minutes against Atlanta United FC (Nov. 1) ... had four shots, two on target ... replaced by Siem de Jong in the second half ... played 27 minutes against Inter Miami CF (Nov. 8) ... replaced Zico Bailey in the second half ... recorded his second assist of the season ... MLS is Back Tournament: Made three appearances ... played 37 minutes as a second-half substitute in group-stage match against Columbus (July 11) ... replaced Kekuta Manneh in the second half ... played five minutes as a second-half substitute in group-stage match against Atlanta (July 16) ... replaced Adrien Regattin in the second half ... played 24 minutes as a second-half substitute in group-stage match against New York (July 22) ... replaced Adrien Regattin in the second half.
2019 (Atlanta United FC/Atlanta United 2): Made a combined 20 appearances, including 12 starts, scoring nine goals and adding three assists across all competitions … made 11 appearances, including seven starts, scoring two goals and adding two assists in MLS regular-season matches … made first appearance in a start at Toronto FC (June 26) …. made consecutive starts against Montreal (June 29) and at Chicago (July 3) … scored first goal of the season at Chicago … appeared as a substitute for the first time against New York Red Bulls (July 7) … started and scored against Houston (July 17) … appeared against Columbus (Sept. 14) as a substitute … recorded first assist of campaign against San Jose (Sept. 21) ... added another assist against New York City (Sept. 25) … made last MLS appearance of the season against Montreal (Sept. 29) … made six appearances, including four starts, scored a three goals and added an assist in the USL Championship … made season debut and scored against Hartford (March 9) … scored second goal against New York Red Bulls II (June 7) … recorded a goal and an assist against Hartford (Aug. 24) … U.S. Open Cup: Scored two goals in extra time after entering the match as a second-half substitute in Fourth Round match against Charleston (June 13) … started and scored two goals, including the eventual game-winner, in Round of 16 match at Columbus (June 18) … made an appearance as a substitute in Quarterfinal match against Saint Louis (July 10).
2018 (Atlanta United FC/Atlanta United 2): Made 15 appearances, including six starts, scoring two goals across all competitions … made eight appearances in MLS regular-season matches … made season debut as a second-half substitute in season opener at Houston (March 3) … played 14 minutes as a second-half substitute against Philadelphia (June 2) … made three consecutive appearances against D.C. (July 21), at Montreal (July 28) and against Toronto (Aug.4) … made last MLS regular-season appearance against New York Red Bulls (Sept. 30) … made five appearances, including four starts, and scored two goals in the USL Championship … debuted with Atlanta United II against Charleston (April 24) … made first USL Championship start and scored first goal against Toronto FC II (May 16) … made second consecutive start at North Carolina (May 25) … scored second goal against Bethlehem (July 11) … played 53 minutes in final USL Championship appearance at Charleston (Aug. 11) … U.S. Open Cup: Made two appearances, both starts, in the U.S. Open Cup … played all 90 minutes in Fourth Round match against Charleston (June 6) … started and played 62 minutes in Round of 16 match against Chicago (June 20).
2017 (Atlanta United FC): Made 15 appearances, including two starts, scoring three goals and adding two assists across all competitions … made professional debut as a second-half stoppage-time substitute and scored first professional goal at Real Salt Lake (April 22) … made consecutive starts against D.C. (April 30) and at New York City (May 7) … played 14 minutes as a second-half substitute at Chicago (June 10) … played 15 minutes as a second-half substitute at D.C. United (June 22) … began a stretch of eight consecutive appearances from … recorded first professional assist, a game-winning assist, against Colorado (June 24) … made final MLS regular-season appearance against the LA Galaxy (Sept. 20) … U.S. Open Cup: Made two appearances, both starts, scored two goals and added one assist in the US Open Cup … started, played the full 90 minutes, record an assist and scored the game-winning goal in Fourth Round match against Charleston (June 14) … started and scored a goal in Round of 16 match at Miami (June 28).
2016 (Tijuana): Made professional debut, and only appearance of the season, against Lobos BUAP in the Copa MX (Aug. 17).
INTERNATIONAL: Made his senior national team debut with the USMNT on January 25 in a friendly against Serbia, where he scored in his start as part of the annual U.S. Soccer January Camp … has totaled two caps for the U.S. at the senior level … made 15 appearances and scored six goals for the United States U-17 National Team … made four appearances in the 2015 Concacaf U-17 Championship … made two appearances and scored two goals in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup … scored against Croatia (Oct. 20) and against Chile (Oct. 23) in the group stage … made four appearances for the United States U-20 National Team.