Mexican Icon Scores First Two NASL Goals in Entertaining 3-3 Draw in New York
Indy Eleven’s Gerardo Torrado swoops in to claim NASL Player of the Week Distinction.
Soccer News: Gerardo Torrado, who is tied for second all-time in appearances (146) for El Tri, opened the scoring on Saturday night with a beautiful curled effort in the 10th minute. The goal was Torrado’s first in 32 career appearances for Indy, and miraculously, he wasn’t done.
Former Mexican national team star Gerardo Torrado scored his first two North American Soccer League (NASL) goals in the span of four minutes to help Indy Eleven earn a point on the road against the New York Cosmos on Saturday night. The veteran midfielder’s role in the thrilling 3-3 draw has earned him NASL Player of the Week honors, the league announced Monday.
Just four minutes after putting the Boys in Blue up 1-0, Torrado fired home his second goal. Forward Eamon Zayed laid the ball off for the Mexico City native, who blasted a shot past a helpless Jimmy Maurer to double Indy’s lead.
Not known for finding the back of the net, Torrado’s two-goal shift helped Indy grind out a point against a tough Cosmos side. The 38-year-old midfielder is known more for his passing and defensive capabilities, only scoring 12 league goals during his 11-year stay with Liga Bancomer MX side Cruz Azul.
Torrado’s pair of goals was just the start of a wild game at MCU Park in Brooklyn. Goals from New York’s Dejan Jakovic and Pablo Vranjican brought the score level, and after Zayed put Indy back ahead, Cosmos midfielder Juan Guerra made the score 3-3 late in the game with a header from 10 yards out.
One of Mexico’s most iconic players in recent years, Torrado joined Indy last summer after a memorable career at Cruz Azul. Since joining the NASL side, the 5-foot-8 midfielder has been a fixture in the club’s midfield.
Torrado began his career in Mexico with UNAM Pumas before eventually moving to Spain. From 2000-2005, he played for four Spanish clubs: Tenerife, Poli Ejido, Sevilla, and Racing Santander. Upon returning to Mexico, Torrado started his long stay at Cruz Azul, appearing in 325 league games for La Maquina.
