CARSON, Calif. – The game-winning goal Erick “Cubo” Torres scored last week against D.C. United was not spectacular, but it had his teammates gushing yet again.
Torres has shouldered the offense seemingly by himself since arriving from Guadalajara, scoring seven goals in nine games – the most of any player in MLS since he found the net in his July 17 debut. His latest wasn't the prettiest of the bunch, though it mattered little to the Rojiblancos.
With Torres sitting at his locker nearby, veteran center back Carlos Bocanegra joked he was happy the Mexican national team had not called on the 20-year-old forward for their recent qualifier against the United States.
“He’s a hard worker and always in the right spot,” Bocanegra. “He’s finishing his chances and having a great little season for us.”
While the soft-spoken Torres continued to give credit to his teammates for the hard work they've put in the past few weeks to grab eight points from six matches, captain Dan Kennedy raved about the youngster.
“Cubo is class,” Kennedy said. “I don’t think we’ve had a real forward like him here since Ante Razov, who was probably our last forward that had as much threat as savvy. It’s hard to believe how young [Torres] is. He’s got it all because he can bang, which you have to be able to do in this league. You either have to be so good that no one touches you or you have to be able to bang. He can bang and when he gets his chances, he always puts them away.”
Razov scored 30 goals for Chivas USA during a three-year stay.
Like his players, head coach José Luis “Guero” Real continues to compliment Torres, pegging him as perhaps the most important player on the roster. The offensive production has backed up those claims and would suggest Torres has benefited from his move to MLS.
“I feel really good,” Torres told reporters. “I still think there are some things I need to improve to reach my maximum. I’m working to reach that maximum and I think the team has helped me a lot to tally the goals that I have.”
