Photo by Tom Hauck/ISIphotos.com
The Steve Zakuani momentum train has picked up even more speed.
Already having turned in a fantastic second season in Major League Soccer, not to mention a brilliant display in Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final, Zakuani won MLS’ Goal of the Week honor for his tally against Toronto FC last weekend.
The goal came off a great run and perfectly timed through ball by Osvaldo Alonso. The pass put Zakuani in on Stefan Frei 1-v-1, and the winger delivered the equalizing goal that opened the floodgates for Seattle, which scored the following two goals and held on for a 3-2 victory at Qwest Field.
Video of the award-winning goal is after the jump:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLtWPgdimB8&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0]
What did you think of the goal? Think others (David Beckham’s free kick, or Sebastien Le Toux’s finish against Houston) were more deserving? Impressed with Zakuani’s season?
Share your thoughts below.
It was the least deserving of the goals. This as a Sounders fan. LeToux’s first touch was sublime and the finish was calm and perfect technique. Wish we had seen some of that last year. I know we played him on the wing when he’s a much better forward but his first touch was never that good in Seattle.
Le Toux should have had it, and we should still have Le Toux. Oh well.
I loooove what Seattle brings to this league as well as their fans but this is pathetic. It’s gotta be Le Toux. Thtat is a GOTY contender that will now not be because of stuffing.
Buddle’s would have been acceptable as well but Zakani’s was routine.
Have watched Zakuani’s goal multiple times from all angles; I don’t see how he could possibly be concieved as onsides. There are four defenders; the closest one to him is just about the farthest defender back and he is a solid three feet in front of Steve when the ball was played. Would be interested to hear others thoughts on this…
Can I relieve your criticism a bit? We have enough numbers and have coordinated successful ballot stuffing in the past (including a couple of times for Seba), but this round I fear we may have been going up against less than fair tactics set up by Seattle fans (see above).
No, Hopper, I don’t think you understand. Any time a player from the Sounders scores a goal inside the 18 he was offside. Period. It’s the rule of the internets.
WTF are you talking about? I’m not ECS, but if I were I’d be saying the same thing. What that has to do with the ECS is beyond me. Le Toux’s goal was one of the most skillful I’ve seen all season. Great presence of mind and ball control on the run. If Zak’s goal was worth it, I would have voted for it. It simply wasn’t.
Lame. This was a great pass with an average goal, and no chance it was number one. Looks like other fan groups need to step it up with regards to voting (I’m looking at you Philly, Le Toux’s goal was world class).
When I saw Le2’s goal live @ PPL, I didn’t even realize how smooth it was since I was on the other end. I thought he just tapped it in with the off foot, so I was shocked to see the replay that night. How he brought that thing down and scored so quick with the other foot amazes me. Love me some SeaBass.
I think he got robbed, too. When I voted on Tuesday afternoon, Le Toux’s goal was way in front. I think Zakuani’s was fourth.
Anyway, I voted for Buddle’s goal, but it was a tough choice (for me) between Buddle and Le Toux. The Zakuani goal should have gotten ‘Pass of the Week’.
I didn’t watch any of the goals, and know that this one only won because of the Seattle bot force.
They do, in the form of bots. This has been going on since Richards won GotW through NY botters.
I’d be too embarrassed to vote for that goal
LA fan, and I think Le Toux got robbed on this one.
Would have liked to see Le Toux get this, such a better finish. I just loved how he made the whole thing look so easy like it was no big deal.
Calm down dude. He wasn’t offside anyway. It was a good goal. Direct your anger somewhere else.
I voted for Buddle…great pass, sweet finish. A lot of good goals to choose from this week, actually. To me the Zakuani goal is the 4th best.
1. Buddle
2. Le Toux
3. Beckham
4. Zakuani
I think Buddle’s goal was fantastic. Now THAT was a classy finish.
A lot of SSFC homers are still Seba homers too… But yeah, that was a better goal…
Spoken like a couple of true catty ECS members. Let Zak have his props!
I think the problem with the Beckham FK was that we’ve become accustomed to it. We all most expect it from that spot. Somebody else buries that then they might of won GOTW. Also the Gals votes were split with two impressive goals.
Gotta love when a player beats a keeper 1 on 1 (aka the easiest possible way to score without an empty net) and it wins goal of the week.
Either Seattle has 32890238908499388 fans voting, or MLS fans are showing their ignorance.
Even though I live in Seattle and I am a diehard Sounder fan, I voted for Le Toux.
I just said “offsides” on a Soccer Blog therefore it exists. Don’t bring your EuroSnob interpretations to SBI. If we say offsides in Europe then there is such a thing as offsides. Go upstairs, out of your basement, and act like you know everything to your family but don’t bring it on here.
I agree; you can’t see the LB in the first replay and the second replay (~ 0:17) starts too late in the play to know whether he was in an offside position when the pass was made. Why they couldn’t show 2 more seconds of it, I don’t know.
Definitely a nice goal, and as a Sounders fan I approve, but I thought Beckham’s goal was pretty classy and probably more deserving of GotW… then again, what’s wrong with celebrating a team goal once in a while?
Nice pass and finish, but he does look like his is in an offside position if you pause the replay at 8 seconds. I can’t see the left back though. The LB could be keeping him onside.
There is no such thing as “offsides” in soccer.
Yes we do 🙂
Not to mention he was offsides. I voted for Buddle’s goal but Le Toux’s was equally impressive.
Gotta hand it to Seattle, they know how to stuff the ballot.
Yup, consensus all around: Zak’s goal was off a brilliantly made run, and a very well paced pass, but the individual skill in Seba’s goal was far more impressive.
Bringing down that ball on a full run, with his weak foot, and finishing on the half volley was pure class. Calm as you like.
Just another example of Seattle fans showing their strength in numbers….which I’m OK with most of the time. 🙂
They must have given this Goal of the Week based on the pass. Goal was meh.
Yeah. Same here. Le Toux’s was pure class. Zak’s goal was awesome, although honestly the run and pass are the most impressive parts.
Disappointing. I’m a SSFC homer, but Le Toux’s goal was far more impressive.