Breathtaking Volley by Darlington Nagbe Voted 2011 AT&T Goal of the Year
Published on November 16, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011) - Major League Soccer today named Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe winner of the the 2011 AT&T Goal of the Year for his juggle and volley into the top corner of the goal on July 2 against Sporting Kansas City.
With the Timbers trailing Sporting Kansas City late in the first half, the rookie midfielder scored his first professional goal in spectacular fashion. Controlling a clearance by juggling the ball several times in the air, Nagbe then unleashed a volley from outside the penalty area that knifed into the upper left corner of the goal.
After the game, Nagbe said: "The ball went in (off a cross) and popped back out, I was going to hit it first-time but it didn't fall right so I just controlled it and hit it and thankfully it went in ...(Timbers Coach John Spencer) told me I was going to score yesterday. That's what it was about."
The goal created quite a stir among sports fans, as it won ESPN SportsCenter's ¬ËBest of the Best' poll every day for a full week, earning more votes on each day than another top play from the sports world. Word of Nagbe's goal spread rapidly, and video of the goal received over 1.5 million views on YouTube.
The AT&T Goal of the Year was determined by an online fan vote, after 64 initial nominees for the award were eventually narrowed to four finalists. The final poll results for the four finalists were:
Darlington Nagbe, Portland Timbers - 42 percent
Eric Hassli, Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 31 percent
Fredy Montero, Seattle Sounders FC - 23 percent
Davide Chumiento, Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 4 percent
After being taken No. 2 overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Nagbe, who turned 21 on July 19, finished his first professional season with two goals and three assists in 28 games for the Timbers. He finished fourth in voting for MLS Rookie of the Year.
MLS Goal of the Year Winners
2011: Darlington Nagbe - Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City - July 2, 2011
2010: Marco Pappa - Chicago Fire vs. San Jose Earthquakes - April 10, 2010
2009: Landon Donovan - LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution - August 8, 2009
2008: Will Johnson - Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas - October 18, 2008
2007: Cuauhtemoc Blanco - Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake - August 18, 2007
2006: Brian Ching - Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United - September 30, 2006
2005: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes at LA Galaxy - October 15, 2005
2004: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United - August 2, 2004
2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago Fire at Columbus Crew - August 13, 2003
2002: Carlos Ruiz - LA Galaxy vs. Columbus Crew - July 27, 2002
2001: Clint Mathis - MetroStars vs. Dallas Burn - April 28, 2001
2000: Marcelo Balboa - Colorado Rapids at Columbus Crew - April 22, 2000
1999: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United at Miami Fusion - May 22, 1999
1998: Brian McBride - Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire - July 9, 1998
1997: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United vs. New England Revolution - August 27, 1997
1996: Eric Wynalda - San Jose Earthquakes vs. D.C. United - April 6, 1996
Major League Soccer Stories from November 16, 2011
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- Houston Dynamo Game Notes - Houston Dynamo FC
- Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Sounders FC to Open Hawks Nest for Full 2012 Season - Seattle Sounders FC
- Impact Looking for Two Supporters to Launch New Jersey - Club de Foot Montreal
- D.C. United to Hold Annual Holiday Equipment Sale - D.C. United
- Sounders FC Goalkeeper Kasey Keller Wins 2011 Save of the Year - MLS
- Breathtaking Volley by Darlington Nagbe Voted 2011 AT&T Goal of the Year - MLS
- Nagbe Wins 2011 AT&T Goal of the Year with Strike Against Sporting KC - Portland Timbers
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