has played better

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,
I wonder if you agree with the tense used there: “The Swede has played better, but he was full of his usual deft touches, scored and made three key passes. “

To me, Pres Perf sounds like [in this particular match] he’s played better than [whoever he was compared with], though the whole sentence construction was meant to say in my view, that he’d performed better to that night.
Did I read it right?

2

The Swede has played better (in past matches), but (tonight, nevertheless) he was full of his usual deft touches(. He) scored and made three key passes.

In other words, he usually plays well and tonight was no exception, but at times in the past he has played even better than his standard level.

3

Beeesneees,

  1. He usually plays well and tonight was no exception, but at times in the past
    he has played even better than his standard level.
  2. He usually played well and tonight was no exception, but at times in the past
    he had played even better than his standard level.
    Please correct the above and comment.
    Thanks.
4

2 is not the correct tense.

5

So, “He’s had better games under his belt, but…” would be an equivalent of the original (= playing well is his usual routine, but sometimes he was just outstanding)?
Past Perf would sound like his better games were in the past (and almost forgotten)?