Nick Lima came into the 2019 MLS season with high expectations. One of a few bright spots during a rough 2018 season, Lima would earn the club’s Defensive Player of the Year award, go on to earn his second call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team, and turn in a Man-of-the-Match performance in his debut appearance for the Red, White, and Blue. These are just a few of the highlights that were swirling around in the head of the Castro Valley native as he jetted off to Cancun to catch up with the rest of his Quakes teammates for preseason.
“Be the best I can be for the Earthquakes,” said Lima following the USMNT match at Avaya Stadium on Feb. 2. “I’m starting from behind them so I have to make as big of an impact there in front of the new head coach as I can.”
Once the season began, the team noticeably had some growing pains to deal with. Head coach Matias Almeyda brought in a new style of play to a team that only won four matches last year. Four losses to start the season wasn’t what the team was expecting, and changes were going to be made. Lima started the first three matches of the season in his natural position as a right back but was subbed out every time around the 60-minute mark.
Then came the LAFC match. San Jose lost 5-0 and Lima, for the first time since a 4-0 loss to D.C. United on Sept. 23, 2017, was an unused sub. Just a couple of months removed from starting for the U.S. Men’s National Team, Lima sat on the bench as San Jose were pummeled by Carlos Vela and Co.
“For me, you learn as much as you can every day. You learn as much as you can from members of the coaching staff and players. We have to stick together if we want to succeed,” Lima said during the rough patch San Jose found themselves in.
“Nick and many of his teammates were used to playing a different style of soccer,” explained Almeyda. “They played defense with a flat line and used a zone coverage. Playing like this, it’s hard to see your mistakes. With the system that we implemented, you are left exposed in everything good and bad. That’s why I need players that are concentrated for 90 - 98 minutes.”
The San Jose defender did keep learning. Not only did he wait for his opportunity, he also took full advantage of it. From April 20 to May 4, Lima started and played the full 90 minutes in all four matches and scored a rocket for the game-winning goal against FC Cincinnati last weekend.
"Nick, as is the team, is growing game after game,” said Almeyda after Saturday’s 1-0 victory. “Seeing how he played in the previous games and this game is the Nick we would like to see: concentrated, fast, confident, and decisive. I think physically he can attack and defend, and today he scored a great goal.”
Lima and the rest of the Quakes will look to continue their positive run of form against a Revolution team that finds itself scrounging for points, a position that San Jose aren’t too far removed from.
“We keep putting our head down, working together out on the training pitch every day, listening to instruction, getting done what needs to get done individually for the team,” Lima said before a training session. “Just keep helping each other out. I think that’s a huge step that we have taken, guys looking out for each other, off the field, on the field, in practice and in games. It’s been fun to be a part of.”
One thing that’s not debatable is that MLS is hard to predict, and anything can happen at any time. You can be sure though, that Nick Lima will be ready for any obstacle in his path.
