Lost in the hoopla of what promises to be a big sports weekend in Toronto is the fact that the most prolific goal scorer in Major League Soccer history is also paying a visit.
The Raptors can book a spot in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history on Saturday with a win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, host the San Diego Padres in a series featuring two of Major League Baseball’s brightest stars in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Manny Machado.
At the same time, little attention has been paid to San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski, who has quietly breezed into town ahead of Sunday evening’s game against Toronto FC at BMO Field. With Raptors fever taking over the city and the Guerrero hype machine in full force, Wondolowski will likely leave Toronto a similarly quiet fashion without anybody taking notice of him.
That’s a shame, because Wondolowski is a sight to behold on the pitch and, at age 36, he doesn’t have too many more trips to Toronto in his future.
Last week, the native of Danville, California exploded for four goals in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Fire. In doing so, Wondolowski eclipsed Landon Donovan’s league record of 145 goals, and took his career tally to 148.
Wondolowski has punched well above his weight-class since entering MLS. Incredibly, he was selected in the fourth round (41st overall) in the 2005 MLS supplemental draft – nobody took a chance on him during the four rounds of the league’s regular college draft that year. In addition to breaking Donovan’s record, the U.S. international has won two MLS Cups (with the Houston Dynamo in 2006 and 2007), was named league MVP in 2012, and won two Golden Boots as the league’s top scorer (in 2010 and 2012).
Toronto has been a favourite victim, with Wondolowski scoring nine goals in 14 appearances against the Reds, including in their previous contest, a 1-1 draw in San Jose last season.
You won’t mistake Wondolowski for Lionel Messi. He’s not especially attractive to watch. At six-feet and 165 pounds, he’s not the quickest player. He doesn’t gracefully move around the pitch, nor does he beat defenders for power and pace.
But he scores goals. Lots and lots and lots of goals.
So, what’s been the secret to Wondolowski’s success? Toronto coach Greg Vanney says its mostly down to his “clever positioning,” especially when he drifts away from defenders off the back shoulder.
“That’s why he’s the leading scorer in the league. He’s just got a knack and an anticipation to be in the right spaces at the right time, and gets [shots] on target,” Vanney said ahead of Sunday’s match.
Highlight-reel goals? Nah. That’s never been Wondolowski’s thing. The overwhelming majority of his 148 goals have come from inside the 18-yard box. He’s the classic goal poacher, and he’ll take goals any way they can come to him.
“He’ll find any way to get the ball into the back of the net. I’ve seen him [score] off his knee, I’ve seen him [score] in so many different ways. He’s a pure finisher. But for me, a lot of his game is what’s going on between his ears, and how he finds spaces and little gaps to score,” Vanney explained.
Vanney pointed to Wondolowski’s opening goal against Chicago last week, off a setup from teammate Shea Salinas, as an example of how the lanky forward finds space in order to put himself in the perfect position to score.
“Salinas cuts inside and you think maybe [Wondolowski is] going to run across the goal, and instead he pulls away and the defender gets left there. Salinas hits it across to the back post, and [Wondolowski] taps it in. It’s a smart play, and he works against the priorities of the defender, and puts defenders in tough positions,” Vanney offered.
As far as what’s the best way to stop, or at the very least, limit Wondolowski, Vanney has a theory.
“You have to know where he is because he is such a goal poacher and a goal scorer, but he is also an incredibly hard worker. He is as opportunist as they come. Anybody who scores high numbers of goals in our league, you have to have that as a characteristic. Most goals don’t come of the world class variety – they come inside the box, and inside the key areas around the goal,” Vanney explained.
“He has a fantastic knack for understanding where the ball might arrive and he gets himself there and he gets himself prepared to finish.”
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