We're here. With #DecisionDay looming, and the season-long Audi Golden Boot chase culminating, Sebastian Giovinco has tied Kei Kamara. And oh, how he tied him. (Video is above, here and all over the Internet.)
Good grief.
Unfortunately, Kamara earned a yellow in Saturday's 2-0 Crew SC victory against Toronto – a game in which both leaders went scoreless – and will watch the Week 34 action from the sidelines, depriving viewers of a simultaneous Sunday back-and-forth. Columbus head coach Gregg Berhalter is, shall we say, not a fan of that decision. As for his claim that Kamara's 22 field goals outrank Seba's field-plus-penalties total? As the late Yogi Berra sort of said: 90 percent of penalties that get saved don't go in. The Atomic Ant, much like a baseball player of similar stature, still "hit 'em where they ain't."
Assists serve as the first tiebreaker, which means even with a clean sheet against Montreal, it's going to take a four-goal Sunday for Robbie Keane to surpass Seba. Even in defeat, the Galaxy striker tallied twice, and is up to an astounding 19 goals in 23 games (21 starts); last season, it took 29 (28) to reach the same total. Yet this is the same guy who put up back-to-back hat tricks in July, so never say never.
One note here is that we must give a shout-out to stellar rookie Cyle Larin, who claimed a share of fourth place after a brace against NYCFC. His 17 goals have obliterated the MLS rookie record (Previously: 11, Damani Ralph – 2003) and it’s safe to say he’s justified that No. 1 selection in the 2015 SuperDraft. Cheers to that.
Last year’s winner, Bradley Wright-Phillips, and Chris Wondolowski each have 16 goals, just ahead of late chargers Fanendo Adi and Obafemi Martins – the latter of whom earned his 15 in just 20 games (19 starts).
BIGGEST MOVER: Cyle Larin (2 goals) +1
GOALS:
22
RANK: T-1
LAST WEEK: 2
Sebastian Giovinco — TOR
WATCH: Goal vs. NY
With one game left, this is officially Giovinco's race. A goal locks it up, and would put a nice bow on the historic season Seba gift-wrapped for us.
GOALS:
22
RANK: T-1
LAST WEEK: 1
Kei Kamara — CLB
That's a wrap for a triumphant return to MLS. Perhaps ignominous, ending the regular season on the bench, but in the end, Kamara gains (needed) rest for the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. Crew SC are positioned for success.
GOALS:
19
RANK: 3
LAST WEEK: T-3
Robbie Keane — LA
WATCH: Goal 1 vs. POR | Goal 2 vs. POR
Last season's MVP did much to indicate that, without injury, Giovinco would've had to fight that little bit extra to claim the trophy. Yet Keane (if not the Galaxy) has found fine form down the stretch, and Sporting KC has had some leaky moments this season.
GOALS:
17
RANK: T-4
LAST WEEK: T-3
David Villa — NYC
The expansion side won't be entering the second season, but that doesn't mean the future is bleak. Villa's MLS debut campaign, which concludes at home against the Revs, showed the Spanish striker can do the darn thing on any continent, in any circumstance. And if NYCFC are able to build on the foundation laid late this year, Villa's likely to be a crucial cog.
GOALS:
17
RANK: T-4
LAST WEEK: T-5
Cyle Larin — ORL
WATCH: Goal 1 vs. NYC | Goal 2 vs. NYC
This is, simply put, the best statisical impact a drafted player has made in the same calendar year. Larin, and Orlando, will likely be on the attack against Philadelphia since they need a win and a large goal differential to have any hope at that open sixth slot in the East.
