Real Salt Lake striker Chicho Arango has submitted his candidate for MLS goal of the year, with a stunning half-field effort against Austin FC on Saturday night.
The Colombian striker took his time at the midfield line, spied Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver off his line, and let loose with a perfectly-placed shot that sailed to the opposite post and nestled into the top corner of the net.
Cristian Arango from the HALF 😱
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— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 2, 2024
The goal was just the latest highlight in a stellar season for Arango so far. The Colombian went on to score two more to. complete a hat trick later in that game against Austin, and currently leads MLS with 16 goals this season, two ahead of D.C. United’s Christian Benteke and three ahead of Inter Miami duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The goal instantly enters the annals of the best long-range strikes in MLS history, of which one of the most recent also came from Real Salt Lake in strikingly similar fashion. That one, from midfielder Pablo Ruiz, came last year against D.C. United:
Also in that conversation is a weather-assisted effort from earlier this season, as Kellyn Acosta’s stoppage-time effort caught wind and sailed past the Montreal goalkeeper for the winner:
Wayne Rooney had one of his own in 2019, catching Orlando City goalkeeper Brian Rowe out with an effort from 60 yards away.
Have a favorite long-range MLS goal? Let us know in the comments.
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