If you thought New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips had locked up this year's Budweiser MLS Golden Boot with his goalapalooza of a summer, well, think again. He hasn't quite run away with the title yet. Sporting KC's Dom Dwyer is sticking close, and a young gun from the LA Galaxy is on such an amazing run that he might actually be in the contender conversation soon.
Here's what happened this week with the top 5 goal scorers:
1. Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York Red Bulls. 21 goals. This week: 1 goal. In his first duel with his main rival for the Golden Boot, Dwyer, the Englishman added to his tally thanks to a first-half penalty kick (below) in a 2-1 win. He is still on pace to break the MLS single-season record of 27 goals held by Chris Wondolowski and Roy Lassiter. BWP has a .93 goals/90 minutes ratio, which means he is theoretically good for 7.44 goals in the Red Bulls' final 8 games.
2. Dom Dwyer, Sporting KC. 18 goals. This week: 1 goal.The brash Brit is finding his form again. After a midsummer five-game drought, he now has four goals in his last five matches, bringing his total up to 18. He was suspended for SKC's midweek loss in New England, but he struck with a spinning finish at New York on Saturday (below). He probably should've had another just before the halftime whistle.
3 (t). Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy. 14 goals DNP. The Irish maestro, who has only two goals in his last five appearances, was on international duty this weekend.
3 (t). Erick Torres, Chivas USA. 14 goals. This week: DNP. As the Goats have stumbled, so has Cubo. He hasn't scored since July 20. He, too, was on international duty, with Mexico.
3 (t). Gyasi Zardes, LA Galaxy. 14 goals. This week: 2 goals. The young blond-maned Homegrown player has 13 goals in his last 15 games, including now two consecutive 2-goal games. If the Galaxy keep scoring at will -- 19 goals in their last 5 games -- and Zardes keeps finishing his chances, there is every chance he'll become a factor before it's all said and done.
