SEATTLE -- The old adage says there is no such thing as a bad goal.This is usually said after the ball goes in off someone’s shin or the back of a player's head.
And though that might be true, there are definitely goodgoals. And important goals. Milestone goals.
MLS is on the verge of another milestone goal: The8,000th goal ever scored in the league.
Right now, the all-time number stands at 7,997, whichmeans that there’s a chance Fredy Montero or Landon Donovan could hit themilestone goal during Tuesday’s season-opening match between the SeattleSounders and the LA Galaxy (ESPN, 9:30 pm ET).
Or maybe it’ll be someone less heralded, someone whohasn’t made his name yet. After all, Chris Wondolowski scored the 7,000th goalin MLS the year before he had his breakout season and won the 2010 Golden Boot.
No matter who it is, MLS fans will have the chance tobecome intimately acquainted with the goalscorer. That’s because the league will auctionoff the game ball and the game-worn jersey of the player who scores the 8,000thgoal. The proceeds from the auction will then be donated to the goalscorer’sfavorite charity.
There is some other interesting info about the previousmilestone goals.
Goalkeeper Scott Garlick, who played 248 games in MLS,was in the net when three of the previous milestone goals were scored. Heconceded the 2,000th and 3,000th goals while playing for the Tampa Bay Mutiny,and though he didn’t allow the 4,000th goal, he was the starting keeper forColorado when his teammate Mark Chung scored it against the LA Galaxy.
The 2,000th goal was scored by Alex Bunbury in 1999.Unfortunately, an injury will mean his son, Teal, who is with Sporting KansasCity, won’t get the chance to score the 8,000th.
So who will?
MLS GOAL MILESTONES:
No. 1000: Sept. 14, 1997 – Columbus’s Thomas Dooley vs.Kansas City
No. 2000: July 3, 1999 – Kansas City’s Alex Bunbury vs.Tampa Bay
No. 3000: May 9, 2001 – Los Angeles’s Sasha Victorinevs. Tampa Bay
No. 4000: June 25, 2003 – Colorado’s Mark Chung vs. LosAngeles
No. 5000: Aug. 6, 2005 – Real Salt Lake's Andy Williamsvs. Chivas USA
No. 6000: July 27, 2007 – Houston’s Brian Ching vs. NewEngland Revolution
No. 7000: May 16, 2009 – Houston’s Chris Wondolowski vs.New York Red Bulls
