San Jose Earthquakes forward Dwayne De Rosario's stunning overhead kick in the 53rd minute of San Jose's 3-1 victory over New England was recognized by fans as the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week for the week ending April 17, 2004 (Week 3). De Rosario scored the Earthquakes' first goal from the run of play this season, tying the game four minutes after the Revolution had taken the lead. The victory was the first of the campaign for the defending MLS Cup champions.
The weekly winner is determined among a selection of finalists through a fan vote conducted on the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week section of Major League Soccer's official web site: www.MLSnet.com.
With 51 percent of the votes, the Canadian international's strike was the overwhelming favorite, beating MetroStars forward John Wolyniec's diving header (17 percent), and D.C. United forward Freddy Adu's first professional goal (15 percent) in this week's balloting. Tallies by Dallas Burn forward Eddie Johnson and the MetroStars' Fabian Taylor also received votes.
De Rosario's goal came four minutes after New England had taken a 1-0 lead on a Taylor Twellman goal. Earthquakes captain Jeff Agoos took a corner kick from the right side, and Revolution goalkeeper Adin Brown and Quakes defender Eddie Robinson challenged for the ball at the top of the six-yard box. The rebound popped up past the group on the left side, where De Rosario sent it on goal with an overhead volley.
"When I saw the ball coming off the deflection, my first instinct was to bicycle it and it felt great when it went in," De Rosario said after the match. "We have been working very hard to get goals in the first three games so I was happy to see one finally go in."
The 2001 MLS Cup MVP's first goal of the season was the Earthquakes first goal from the run of play, with the only other goal coming on a Ronnie Ekelund penalty kick conversion in Week One. The goal was the first of three unanswered goals for the Quakes, who also recorded their first victory of the season.
Streaming video highlights of MLS games are available for viewing just hours after the conclusion of the final match each weekend. The Sierra Mist Goal of the Week winner is announced the following Wednesday.
At the end of the regular season, each of the 29 Goal of the Week winners selected throughout the season will be featured in voting for the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Year, an award presented annually to the author of the season's most spectacular scoring play. The Sierra Mist Goal of the Year award will be presented at the annual Gala Awards ceremony in the days leading up to MLS Cup 2004.
2004 SIERRA MIST GOAL OF THE WEEK WINNERS
Week 1: Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United)
Week 2: Ronald Cerritos (D.C. United)
Week 3: Dwayne De Rosario (San Jose Earthquakes)
