If you hadn’t heard of Roland Alberg, don’t worry. We, at Sports From The Basement, are here to present him to you.
Alberg is a 25-year-old midfielder who signed with Philadelphia Union out of Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag. He joined the team before the start of the 2016 season, and even though he struggled a bit to adjust to the league’s pace, he’s improved by leaps and bounds over the past month. The two-week hiatus due to the 2016 Copa America Centenario helped him a great deal.
If not, just ask him the Chicago Fire. Alberg torched the Fire defensive line last week, and scored a hat-trick during his team’s 4-3 last Wednesday. The result helped Philadelphia maintain sole possession of the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
To make things even better, Alberg also contributed in Philadelphia’s US Open Cup win over the Harrisburg City Islanders with two goals. His second goal was a beautiful free kick on stoppage time:
Considering he’s only 25, Alberg still has a lot of room to grow. His pace and vision are something few other MLS players have, and he’s very versatile as well. The playmaker can line up anywhere in the final third, but he’s more effective playing on a deeper role behind a striker. Can you imagine the amount of chances the Union will create if he keeps this up when C.J. Sapong returns?
Alberg has scored five goals in the past three matches. He’s quickly emerging as a vital piece in Philadelphia’s midfield. He’s only going to get better, though, and fans can dream about him, Chris Pontius and Tranquillo Barnetta destroying opposing defenses on a weekly basis.
The former ADO Den Haag player has only started five games this season, but that number will undoubtedly rise. He is not leaving the Union’s starting XI anytime soon, and who knows? Playing like this he could get a second chance in Europe sooner than later.