Top Five MLS Goals in 2019

The 2019 MLS season was chock full of wonderful goals that seemingly defied gravity and made jaws drop. Here’s the top five goals of the year for this year’s MLS season.

What are the Top Five Goals for the 2019 MLS Season?

5) Leonardo Bertone, FC Cincinnati against Seattle Sounders FC, Week 1

In the first week of the season, FC Cincinnati headed to Seattle, and much like their season, the opening match wasn’t a strong effort from the club from Ohio. But in that 4-1 loss, Cincy’s lone goal from Leonardo Bertone was truly a feat of magic.

After a cross from the left wing, the ball is rattled around at the top of the box before a Sounders defender pops the ball up in the air and out to the top of the circle where Bertone waits. The midfielder plays the ball as it falls to the pitch and kicks an absolute screamer to the lower left corner for a fierce and powerful goal.

4) Orji Okwonkwo, Montreal Impact against Portland Timbers, Week 17

After a cross from the right wing sails long, Montreal midfielder Saphir Taïder makes an attempt to keep the ball in the box by popping it back up toward the top line of the box. But Okwonkwo has other ideas as he waits for the ball to take one bounce before making a pivot to his left for a play on the ball.

With his back to the goal, Okwonkwo plants his foot facing the opposite sideline and then coils his body and unleashes a wicked shot that finds the top corner for a spectacular goal.

3) Kei Kamara, Colorado Rapids against Sporting Kansas City, Week 29

Off a corner from the right flag, the ball gets through a crowd and rolls up Kamara’s right leg. With a defender holding him, Kamara watches the ball rise into the air as tries to free himself from the clutch.

As the ball peaks, Kamara pivots, and with his back to the goal, he makes a move that lifts his body and he quickly puts on a terribly strong bicycle kick from point blank range on the keeper. The ball comes off his foot like a rocket and finds the back of the net.

2) Raul Ruidiaz, Seattle Sounders FC against Atlanta United, Week 19

One of the most chaotic goals of the season belongs to Ruidiaz on his home pitch against the visiting Atlanta club. As the Seattle attack enters the box around Atlanta’s goal, the ball is lifted toward a slashing Ruidiaz who bumps the ball off his chest, then pops it down off his head, and finally lifts it over a defender before getting the ball on his right foot.

With Atlanta’s keeper, Brad Guzan, attempting to make a play on the ball, Ruidiaz slid it past the goalie for a thrilling and remarkable goal.

1) Josef Martinez, Atlanta United against FC Cincinnati, Week 29

As Atlanta crossed the midfield line, midfielder Julian Gressel pushed the ball up the pitch to Martinez. As the ball bounced behind Martinez, the forward kicked his right foot back and popped the ball back over his head and into open space at the top of the box.

With a defender closing in, Martinez fakes a shot on his right foot and then moves the ball back onto his left foot. As he lines up to shoot, a sliding defender makes him pause and then nudge the ball even further to the center of the pitch. Martinez then puts a wicked side spin kick on the ball and it slides inside the left post for the best goal of the 2019 MLS season.