Okwonkwo pips Rooney & Co for MLS Goal of the Week

Orji Okwonkwo, in a fitness battle to be ready for this Saturday night’s encounter against Minnesota United, was given a boost, taking the honours in MLS Goal of Week 17.

The young Nigerian swivelled and rifled a right-foot volley into the roof of the Portland net last midweek, and immediately everyone there watching in the stadium knew they’d just witnessed something special.

Any Impact fan leaving Stade Saputo that evening would have already been convinced Okwonkwo had ‘Goal of the Week’ in the bag. But that was before seeing Wayne Rooney’s marvellous strike from his own half for DC United against Orlando, giving his side a narrow victory.

Okwonkwo had serious competition!

But surprisingly as things turned out, Rooney’s effort was voted only third, beaten into second-place by young right-back, Hassani Dotson’s 25 yard screamer for Minnesota against hapless Cincinnati.

The voting was very close with all votes fairly evenly spread across the five nominees. Justin Meram, for his first effort for Atlanta United against Montreal Impact, was also a nominee.

23% - Orji Okwonkwo (Montreal Impact)
21% - Hassani Dotson (Minnesota United)
20% - Wayne Rooney (DC United)
18% - Justin Meram (Atlanta United)
18% - Vako (San Jose Earthquakes)