By RYAN TOLMICH
To qualify as a contender for Goal of the Year, a finish has to have a certain sense of style, ambitiousness and degree of difficulty.
Erick ‘Cubo” Torres’ June volley against Real Salt Lake boasted all three.
The Chivas USA forward’s measured strike of a superb Tony Lochhead long-ball led his team to a surprise 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake, while also earning Torres recognition for scoring the SBI MLS Goal of the Year.
Torres’ finish displayed the Mexican forward’s remarkable sense of timing and technique, as the 21-year-old forward showed the patience to wait out Lochhead’s deep cross before using his right foot to smash the ball past to the far post and into the back of the net.
Check out Torres’ finish below, as well as the rest of the SBI top five goals of the year after the jump:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-sYPzfP1Lo]
2. WILL JOHNSON, Portland Timbers (vs. Vancouver Whitecaps)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVmay4iDUsw]
3. JOSE MARI, Colorado Rapids (vs. Vancouver Whitecaps)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32KgDHyTPYo]
4. DAX MCCARTY, New York Red Bulls (vs. New England Revolution)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY2Z3aKFO_0]
5. DIEGO VALERI, Portland Timbers (vs. Vancouver Whitecaps)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urywiPe5VXs]
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What do you think of Torres’ goal? Which finish do you believe is Goal of the Year?
Share your thoughts below.