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Ianni strike voted Goal of the Year, Rimando wins Save of the Year

In a year that saw Chris Wondolowski score 27 goals and Kenny Cooper net 18, the strike of the season came from a defender.

Seattle Sounders defender Patrick Ianni won the Goal of the Year award for his stunning volley in the 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City on June 20, MLS announced on Thursday. Ianni was on the receiving end of a Mauro Rosale free kick and he hit an acrobatic volley past goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen that pulled the Sounders level.

The other award winner revealed on Thursday was Nick Rimando, who claimed the Save of the Year award. Rimando won the award for his one-handed stop that denied Sporting Kansas City forward Kei Kamara from close range in RSL’s 1-0 loss on April 14.

You can see Ianni’s goal and Rimando’s save after the jump:

What do you think of Ianni’s strike winning Goal of the Year? Agree that Rimando’s save was the best of the season? Which other goals/saves from the year stick out in your mind?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Don’t like this as the goal of the year. As someone noted above, there are several goals this year that exhibit both great dribbling skill and great finishing, and they are all way better than this one somewhat lucky side volley strike thing. I even think a nice long range shot is better than this one.

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  2. They should also have an assist of the year and defensive tackle of the year… this would also encourage kids to be great passers and want to play in a defensive role.

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  3. wow, horrible all around, the league should stop allowing sounders fans vote. and If Rimando was taller that would be a usual routine save. just wow. really MLS. next time maybe put someone in charge that watches soccer games because I saw better goals in the conf. finals than that.

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  4. I hate to be That Guy, but I will…

    I’m partial to fast passing and one touch ball that unlocks a defense, even if the finish is a relatively simple tap-in. To me, that’s real skill. Ianni’s goal is the type of once-in-a-season strike that gets on the highlight reel but doesn’t take the kind of sustained execution that is the hallmark of great play. For an example of the type of goal I’m talking about, check out DC’s 4th (starting at about 6:40) in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfxWq9540uE

    RBNY with Cooper and Henry also delivered a number of these types of goals as well.

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  5. MLS gets it horribly wrong AGAIN.

    Eric Hassli’s volley against Toronto was nominated for the FIFA Puskas award and this is what wins the MLS GOTY simply because Hassli’s goal wasn’t in an MLS season match? What a joke.

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  6. Well deserved winners. On a local note: That puts SKC on the bad end of 3 of the last 4 Saves/Goals of the Year: Nagbe (2011 Goal), Rimando and Ianni.

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