It’s a numbers game for the AT&T 5G Goal of the Matchday for Matchday 26 with the four nominees – a No. 6 and three No. 10s – proving high-quality goals aren’t just scored by No. 9s.
José Martínez: The hard-tackling Venezuelan defensive midfielder hadn’t scored a goal in his first three seasons with the Philadelphia Union. He’s now struck for two and both were AT&T 5G Goal of the Matchday nominees (Martínez was the runaway winner in Matchday 20 for a spectacular, long-range blast). He was a bit closer to goal this time, but a first-time volley off a chipped service from Quinn Sullivan from the edge of the six-yard box that set the tone in a 2-1 home win over New York City FC was stunning nonetheless.
Emanuel Reynoso: The Minnesota United FC maestro is usually setting up his teammates for goals, but this time the Argentine No. 10 was on the end of a picturesque well-worked tiki-taka goal, guiding in a Kervin Arriaga lofted pass for the equalizer of a 1-1 draw against LAFC. It was Reynoso's fourth goal in just seven appearances this season.
Eduard Löwen: The German midfielder put the finishing touches on St. Louis CITY SC’s dominant 3-0 home win over Inter Miami CF, curling a free kick over the Herons’ five-man wall and into the upper corner of the net. It was Löwen's sixth goal of the year for the expansion side, which enters the Leagues Cup break atop the Western Conference.
Lucas Zelarayán: The Armenian international already has won Goal of the Matchday for a stoppage-time winner from nearly 61 yards in a 2-1 win over Chicago Fire FC in Matchday 18. And now the Columbus Crew No. 10 is a nominee again for a thunderous first-time strike from well outside the 18-yard box. It was Zelarayán’s second goal of the match, a tying strike in what would be a 3-2 loss to the host Portland Timbers.
Check out all of the nominees below:
