Soccer is a team sport, but there are times when one player steps up and single-handedly decides a game for his side.

Whether it’s a hat trick hero, a goalkeeper who stands on his head, or a commanding centre back who doesn’t let anybody by him, one player can often make the difference between winning and losing, especially in a tight match.

The Canadian Premier League saw its fair share of difference-makers in 2020 – players who dominated proceedings from start to finish, or after they came on as a substitute to tip the balance in their team’s favour.

When a player takes a game by the scruff of its neck, watch out! There’s very little the opposing team can do to stop him.

CanPL.ca’s Marty Thompson, Charlie O’Connor-Clarke and John Molinaro debated which CPL player had the best single match performance during the 2020 season.

Check out their picks below.

RELATED READING: 2020: CPL year in review

Kyle Bekker’s 97-minute slog versus Pacific FC

This was the game in which Kyle Bekker began to separate himself from the back in terms of Player of the Year candidates.

Forge FC’s tireless captain entered this first round tilt against Pacific FC set to play his fourth full match in 10 days. The team’s hectic opening week-and-a-half was anchored by Bekker, who played all 300 minutes as a rangy midfielder.

The then-29-year-old found three, maybe four extra gears in this crucial match against Pacific, pinging an incredible four key passes. In injury time, a ball played over the top of Pacific’s back line found Mo Babouli, who ran towards the end-line before cutting it back into the middle. There was Bekker, in the 97th minute, lugging into the box to slice home a winner.

“He’s a machine,” Forge coach Bobby Smyrniotis said. “Right now, he’s doing great. He’s ready to go, he’s ready to fight and he’s ready to lead that team on the field.”

It was a tireless performance that made it clear Bekker was the CPL’s best player.

Kyle Bekker, man. Covered so much ground despite playing every minute of four games in 10 days. #CanPL pic.twitter.com/QsbxaSTE82

— Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (@charliejclarke) August 22, 2020

— By Marty Thompson

Joe Di Chiara’s gem vs. Forge FC

It’s not often that a player completely takes over a game, particularly against an opponent as daunting as Forge. That’s what Di Chiara did on a Thursday afternoon in PEI, though.

The midfielder had himself a career-best performance as York9, despite being overmatched and out-possessed by Forge, edged out their 905 Derby rivals 3-2. Di Chiara scored two of the goals himself — one a penalty, and the other a perfect header off a corner — but it was more than that.

Di Chiara missed just two passes all game, both of them coming very late, for a sparkling 95 per cent accuracy. He made more passes in the attacking half than anybody on either team. Di Chiara’s 11 duels won blew anyone else out of the water, as did his six tackles.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a classic Di Chiara performance without his yellow card in the 56th minute.

Had York9 advanced to the group stage, Di Chiara might’ve received more attention for a Player of the Year nomination. This game proved just how good he can be, and how much of a boost he might be to Cavalry FC.

— By Charlie O’Connor-Clarke

Pacific’s Marco Bustos explodes vs. HFX Wanderers

I know what you’re going to say. The last match of the second round became a dead-rubber after Forge’s 1-0 win over Cavalry earlier in the day guaranteed the Wanderers a berth in the CPL Finals.

As a result, HFX coach Stephen Hart fielded a heavily-rotated lineup that included teenagers Luke Green and Scott Firth in order to avoid injuries and keep his key starters fresh for the Finals. So, yeah, Pacific wasn’t facing HFX’s best starting 11 in this comprehensive 5-0 win.

Still, this was a command performance by Marco Bustos, who looked like he was going to score every time he approached the Wanderers’ 18-yard box. The diminutive attacker ran the Wanderers ragged all night with his dangerous runs both on and off the ball, and he ended up scoring a brace. He also showed off his sublime playmaking skills by collecting a pair of assists, including setting up teammate Terran Campbell’s opening goal via a cheeky cross played into the box.

— By John Molinaro