No MLS games for four months due to the COVID-19 pandemic? No problem when it came to the golazo department.
The votes are in from Round 1 at the MLS is Back Tournament, and Columbus Crew SC midfielder Lucas Zelarayan has taken home AT&T Goal of the Week honors. The club record signing’s curling free kick garnered 57.52% of the vote, as it began a 4-0 rout of Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati. If the former Tigres UANL can produce more moments like that, he’ll prove to be worth every penny.
In second place was the Crew's former star No. 10, current D.C. United midfielder Federico Higuain, with 13.19% of the vote. Pipa made his first appearance in nearly 14 months after recovering from a torn ACL, and the veteran oozed class with a beautiful chip in D.C.’s 2-2 draw against Toronto FC.
Not much separated the bottom group, with third place going to New England Revolution forward Gustavo Bou. He took home 11.93% of the vote after a left-footed rocket against the Montreal Impact, and then fourth went to LAFC forward Diego Rossi (9.86%) for a fizzling far-post finish. Toronto youngster Ayo Akinola brought up the rear (7.49%) for his long-range blast against D.C., the first of two he’d tally that match.
You can check out all five of the Round 1 nominees here.