By Abel Folgar
Giuliano Carranzathe 23-year-old Argentinian who arrived in MLS in 2019 via Inter Miami CF has found a home – and a place to grow up – in the City of Brotherly Love.
His first goal of the evening, a low 12th-minute curler from the top corner of the box, came after a quick escape from his marker. All Montréal goalkeeper James Pantemis could do was watch him roll into the back of the net as he barely beat his sprawled body.
It’s the kind of footballing intelligence that the Union Home Office must have when answering questions about the young striker’s future.
“It’s getting better and better. It’s always a dangerous thing because you know what happens next,” Philly gaffer Jim Curtin told reporters after the game. “He’s a forward who can score. He’s a forward who presses, so if you’re a team that likes to press, it’s a coach’s dream.
“And again, he has that kind of South American ability in front of goal where he has a knack for running hard into the box. He’s not afraid to put his body on the line to score. So really proud of the season Julián has had, he’s getting better and better.”
Carranza’s nine goals and three assists this season are justifying his inclusion in the upcoming 2023 MLS All-Star Game and he’s getting close to the pace for a Golden Boot award this season. And that’s not even taking into consideration the great defensive work of him, something Curtin has noticed.
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“The best strikers in the world are ruthless, and I think Julián has it. I guarantee you if you ask all the centre-backs he’s banged into tonight they feel him, you know what I mean? It’s very, very physical. The way he pressed,” and on defense, the amount of tackles he wins. The pace of work. He was relentless throughout the 90 minutes,” Curtin said of Carranza’s three steals, two interceptions, a winning tackle and the 20 duels he was involved in during the game.
“There’s still a lot to play, there’s still a lot of season left, but we’re in a good position and it’s the same group of guys. We’re still really, really good,” said Curtin. “It’s a solid group and I’m going to fight with them any day of the week.”
This article was originally posted on 90min.com as Julián Carranza is a growing threat in Philly’s already dangerous arsenal.
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