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Finalists Named for Sierra Mist Goal of the Decade

February 27, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Monday, February 27, 2006) - Just five nominees remain in contention for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Decade and the final round of voting is underway on the League's official Web site, www.MLSnet.com. Fans have until March 6 to vote for their favorite goal among the five finalists, but they can view the original 30 nominees all season long. Participants may vote up to 10 times per day.

The competition began February 7 with a field of nominees consisting of three Goal of the Year finalists from each season in the first decade of Major League Soccer. Among those 30 goals were 12 stunning volleys, six bicycle kicks, five free kicks, four dribble runs, and one "Gol Olimpico" directly off a corner kick. All of those finalists were selected through fan voting. Thus, fans can begin influencing the next Goal of the Decade competition by participating in the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week voting, which begins after the 2006 MLS season kicks off on April 1.

The five remaining nominees are:

1996 - Brian McBride, Columbus Crew

Tracking down an 85-yard punt from his goalkeeper, McBride flicks the ball with his head - to himself - as he rounds a defender and volleys inside the far-post.

2003 - Carlos Ruiz, Los Angeles Galaxy

Cobi Jones swoops in and crosses the ball back to Ruiz, who uses a well-placed bicycle kick to score in style.

2003 - John Wolyniec, MetroStars

Sprinting beneath a long free kick from midfield by Amado Guevara, Wolyniec stretches to connect on a game-winning volley to the far post.

2005 - Carlos Ruiz, FC Dallas

Ruiz finishes Roberto Mina's delicate chip pass with a bicycle kick that wrong-foots the United goalkeeper.

2005 - Dewayne De Rosario, San Jose Earthquakes

De Rosario's free kick seems to defy physics as it bends around the Galaxy wall and into the upper near corner of the net.

The voting schedule follows:

1. February 7 - 13: Voting for top 20 goals from original 30 nominees.

2. February 13 - 20: Voting for top 10 goals from the top 20 nominees.

3. February 20 - 27: Voting for top 5 goals from the top 10 nominees.

4. February 27 - March 6: Voting for Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Decade from top five nominees.

5. The Sierra Mist Goal of the Decade will be announced on March 15, 2006.

Click here for nominees: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/mls/awards/2006/goal_of_the_decade/

Original Goal of the Decade Nominees

2005: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose vs. Los Angeles - October 15, 2005

Carlos Ruiz - FC Dallas vs. D.C. United - May 28, 2005

Clint Dempsey - New England vs. Chicago - April 27, 2005

2004: Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose vs. D.C. United - August 7, 2004

Ross Paule - Columbus vs. D.C. United - August 21, 2004

Steve Ralston - New England vs. Chicago - October 16, 2004

2003: Damani Ralph - Chicago at Columbus - August 13, 2003

John Wolyniec - MetroStars vs. Columbus - September 20, 2003

Carlos Ruiz - Los Angeles vs. Columbus - August 9, 2003

2002: Carlos Ruiz - Los Angeles vs. Columbus - July 27, 2002

Ronnie Ekelund - San Jose vs. Columbus - July 27, 2002

Taylor Twellman - New England vs. Kansas City - June 22, 2002

2001: Clint Mathis - MetroStars vs. Dallas - April 28, 2001

Brian Maisonneuve - Columbus vs. MetroStars - August 19, 2001

Peter Nowak - Chicago vs. Dallas - September 8, 2001

2000: Marcelo Balboa - Colorado vs. Columbus- April 22, 2000

Hristo Stoichkov - Chicago vs. D.C. United - April 8, 2000

Miklos Molnar - Kansas City vs. Tampa Bay - May 27, 2000

1999: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United at Miami - May 22, 1999

Ante Razov - Chicago vs. Dallas - July 4, 1999

Eddie Lewis - San Jose vs. Colorado - May 27, 1999

1998: Brian McBride - Columbus vs. Chicago- July 9, 1998

Damian - Dallas vs. Los Angeles - June 4, 1998

Jaime Moreno - D.C. United vs. Colorado - April 11, 1998

1997: Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United vs. New England- August 27, 1997

Wolde Harris - Colorado vs. Columbus - April 5, 1997

Jorge Salcedo - Columbus vs. New England - May 9, 1997

1996: Eric Wynalda - San Jose vs. D.C. United - April 6, 1996

Brian McBride - Columbus vs. D.C. United - April 13, 1996

Giovanni Savarese - MetroStars vs. Tampa Bay - May 4, 1996

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