MLS Opening Day: A Record High In Goals
As all twenty MLS teams played, opening day saw a record number of goals
For the first time in league history, opening day saw every team in MLS play in a match and though it was frantic for die-hard fans trying to keep up with all of the scores, I would say it was nowhere near disappointing when it came to fans watching on television, live streams, in the stadium, or keeping up with live stats.
More from Chicago Fire
- New season brings renewed hope for the Chicago Fire
- Bastian Schweinsteiger set to sign for Chicago Fire
- Chicago Fire look to turn their season around
- Chicago needs to find Fire offensively
- MLS Disciplinary Committee Issues Week 1 Suspensions
It really was as though Oprah herself was making appearances at each game and handing out goals to players as if they were candy: “You get a goal! You get a goal! You get a goal!” By the end of all ten matches and after each of the twenty teams played a full 90 minutes and then some; a record high of 36 goals was scored for Major League Soccer. If that’s not an aggressive start to the season, I don’t know what is!
The previous record for goals scored on opening day was 27 and was in place since 2001, but that was until Tommy McNamara of New York City FC set the momentum with the first goal of the season just 10 minutes into their match. In NYCFC’s physical match against Chicago a surprising seven total goals were scored four of which were accounted for by the talent on NYCFC’s roster who beat Chicago Fire 4-3.
In a rematch of the 2015 MLS Cup Final, the Portland Timbers divulged their championship banner and reminded fans everywhere why they deserve their title in a 2-1 win over Columbus Crew.
After quite the defensive matchup between San Jose and Colorado, it was Chris Wondolowski scored his 110th goal of his MLS career and winning goal for San Jose in a 1-0 match. After a 2015 season that wasn’t up to par, the LA Galaxy made a statement as they topped DC United 4-1. I think this start speaks measures when it comes to remembering the season that blew up for them in 2015. It’s definitely a promising start for LA.
With the match on the line for Orlando City, last season’s Rookie Of The Year, Cyle Larin, set up teammate Adrian Winter for a dramatic goal against Real Salt Lake in the last 30 seconds of stoppage time ending the match in a 2-2 draw. As if that wasn’t sweet enough, the goal was in front of an opening day record crowd of 60,147! The only other draw of the day came with a last-minute goal for New England forcing a 3-3 tie with Houston Dynamo.
In the 73rd minute for Sporting Kansas City and Seattle, Andre Coelho scored the winning goal in a 1-0 in a spectacular debut for the rookie on Kansas City’s roster. Other notable wins came from Toronto FC who beat the New York Red Bulls 2-0, the Montreal Impact who beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2, and FC Dallas who defeated Philadelphia with a 2-0 score.
Related Story: NYCFC: Optimistic start but plenty of room for improvement
There’s not much more fans could have asked for when it came to MLS opening day. There’s no question (if there ever was during preseason) that we are in for an unforgettable season for our favorite teams. With championships in the back of each of the players’ heads it’s clear that we are going to see a lot of physical play throughout the year.