Goal of the Year: Burgos Buries 2015 Honor

November 12, 2015 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks News Release

NEW YORK - Atlanta Silverbacks central attacking midfielder Junior Burgos made Aug. 8 a night to remeber when he calmly stood over a 30-yard free kick in the 51st minute. His swerving right-footed strike inside the San Antonio Scorpions' near post will now be chisled in the NASL record books as the 2015 Goal of the Year, the League announced on Thursday.

Burgos' explosive go-ahead goal in the eventual 3-3 draw was selected soley by the fans.

"I'm speechless," Burgos said. "It's an honor that I wasn't expecting and, all I can say is, thank you to the fans for voting and thank you to my coaches and teammates with the Silverbacks for putting me in the position to make a difference. I'm humbled for the individual honor, and it's something I will never forget."

The free kick also won NASL Play of the Week for Week 6 of the Fall Season by a landslide - claiming 42 percent of the fan vote.

"I want to dedicate this award to my family, coaches and teammates in Atlanta, and all the beautiful people from El Salvador," Burgos said. "This wouldn't have been possible without them."

After re-joining the Silverbacks for the Fall Season, the Salvadorian international was named to the Team of the Week for Weeks 9 and 20. The 27-year-old midfielder finished the season with four goals and six assists in 1,281 minutes.

The Salvadorian rejoined the Silverbacks after 17 appearances with the Club in 2014. He scored six goals in a Silverbacks shirt, including three goals and three assists in Atlanta's historic Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run that collected the scalps of Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids. In 17 NASL and four Open Cup appearances with Atlanta, Burgos scored unstoppable strikes from distance against the Tampa Bay Rowdies, New York Cosmos, Real Salt Lake and two against Chattanooga FC.

His knack for goal scoring earned him eight caps with the Salvadorian National Team, where he scored a crisp header in a friendly against Nicaragua on Jan. 31, 2014. Burgos is the son of Salvadorian international Efrain Burgos Sr., who played professionally in El Salvador with Once Lobos, FAS, C.D. Atlético Marte, Isidro Metapan, Alianza and Guatemalan side Cobán Imperial.

Burgos joined Colombian side Jaguares de Córdoba with former Silverbacks teammate Junior Sandoval, appearing in two domestic competition matches following the 2014 season, but returned Stateside in the summer of 2015.

The Santa Ana, El Salvador, native was drafted 44th overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, making a pair of appearances with Toronto FC. He was with Toronto when the Club raised the Canadian Championship in 2012.

Atlanta Silverbacks Celebrate Junior Burgos Goal August 8th

Junior Burgos of the Atlanta Silverbacks High Fives the Fans

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North American Soccer League Stories from November 12, 2015

• New York Cosmos Launch Emoji Keyboard - New York Cosmos
• Goal of the Year: Burgos Buries 2015 Honor - Atlanta Silverbacks
• Drew Beckie Honoured as NASL Humanitarian of the Year - Ottawa Fury FC

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