One: the number of goals Chris Wondolowski needs to tie Roy Lassiter for the MLS single season record. One: the number of games left in the San Jose Earthquakes regular season for Wondolowski to match Lassiter’s record - vs. Portland on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. PT on NBC Sports. One: where Wondo would place on the list of the all-time great finishers that the league has ever known if he can score against the Portland Timbers this Saturday afternoon.
Wondolowski unwittingly has been chasing history since the Earthquakes opened their 2012 season back in the waning weeks of winter. A strong finish to the 2011 season and time spent with the U.S. Men’s National Team in January set the Quakes MVP on the road to a successful preseason. His first goal of the season, barely 15 minutes into the home opener against the New England Revolution, would turn out to be a game winner. And in 30 appearances since then, including a memorable match coming off the substitutes’ bench in a September tilt against the Timbers, Wondo has increased his total number of game winning goals to an MLS single season record of 11. Throw in his three game tying goals, and Wondolowski has helped the Quakes to a 13-2-4 record in games in which he has scored.
Want to look back at Wondo’s memorable season ahead of Saturday’s potential record making day? Well, pour yourself an A&W Root Beer float, slip into your favorite Lenny wig, and put on your best “unleash your passion” game face — we’ve got all 26 of Wondolowski’s 2012 goals chronicled below. But beware, this list is awesome and may require you to take a long lunch break to get through every single strike. And if your heart starts to race uncontrollably, don’t fear. Just get yourself in front of a television Saturday afternoon at 3:30 and flip on NBC Sports Network to watch MLS history unfold.
<strong>Goal</strong> |
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Result</strong> |
<strong>Details</strong> |
<strong>Description</strong> |
<p>1) <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_bmz5rSZPU&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>3/10</p> |
<p>W 1-0 vs. New England</p> |
<p>GWG 15', Salinas</p> |
<p>Shea Salinas stole the ball in the midfield and delivered a perfect pass to Wondo for a breakaway. He buried a right footed shot just inside the right post to start the 2012 season off in the same form he finished 2011.</p> |
<p>2). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkekK1RwphA&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>3/24</p> |
<p>W 3-0 at Toronto FC</p> |
<p>GWG 9', Cronin</p> |
<p>Sam Cronin sent the ball into the mixer, and Wondo separated himself from the defense to power the header home from the top of the six yard box.</p> |
<p>3). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvMJ8QXAyTM&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>3/24</p> |
<p>W 3-0 at Toronto FC</p> |
<p>68', Baca, Cronin</p> |
<p>Rafael Baca unselfishly gave up a shot opportunity and passed across the area for Wondo to precariously settle the ball and left foot a shot low and past goal-line defender.</p> |
<p>4). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOVYyxviq1c&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>3/31</p> |
<p>W 1-0 at Seattle Sounders</p> |
<p>GWG 24' PK</p> |
<p>After Steven Lenhart was taken down in the area by Marc Burch, Wondo converted a right footed shot low and to the right for the PK goal.</p> |
<p>5). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVDJDcs3TNY&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>4/7</p> |
<p>W 3-1 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps</p> |
<p>68', Corrales</p> |
<p>A long throw-in from Ramiro Corrales allowed Wondo to sneak in behind Jay DeMerit and he chipped the ball calmly over goalkeeper Joe Cannon with his left foot.</p> |
<p>6). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dihaY03Xbx4&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>4/7</p> |
<p>W 3-1 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps</p> |
<p>78', Moreno</p> |
<p>Tressor Moreno sent in a perfectly weighted free kick to the far post for Wondo to expertly volley home with his right foot.</p> |
<p>7). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb6JtFeCXDY&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>4/14</p> |
<p>D 2-2 at New York Red Bulls</p> |
<p>GTG 35', Salinas, Beitashour</p> |
<p>Salinas hustled to reach a Steven Beitashour cross on the endline, and he redirected the ball back to Wondo. He completed the play with a diving header to draw the Quakes even.</p> |
<p>8) <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsadJfm_Jqg&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>4/21</p> |
<p>W 3-1 vs. Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>93', Stephenson, Moreno</p> |
<p>A minute after Simon Dawkins had found the match winner for the Quakes, Wondo added a insurance goal by heading in a shot off a chipped cross into the box by Khari Stephenson.</p> |
<p>9). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3N41wJxBbE&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>5/2</p> |
<p>W 5-3 vs. DC United</p> |
<p>21', Dawkins, Moreno</p> |
<p>Dawkins carried the ball into the area, drawing multiple defenders, before redirecting a ball back to Wondo near the penalty spot. He calmly shot a left footer just inside the left post for the Quakes fourth goal of the game.</p> |
<p>10). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDOUI-tfjEY&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>5/2</p> |
<p>W 5-3 vs. DC United</p> |
<p>GWG 69', Beitashour</p> |
<p>Beitashour cut back against a defender to create space on the flank before sending in a left footed cross into the mixer for Wondo to redirect with his head past the DC ‘keeper.</p> |
<p>11). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvu4S55Kav8&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>5/5</p> |
<p>L 1-2 at Vancouver Whitecaps</p> |
<p>15', Chavez</p> |
<p>Chavez sent a cross to the far post for Wondo to power home a header from the top corner of the six yard box. The goal would stake the Earthquakes to an early lead, but they would yield a stoppage time winner to the Whitecaps to take the loss.</p> |
<p>12). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCZSp53VHdY&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>6/20</p> |
<p>W 2-1 at Colorado Rapids</p> |
<p>GWG 92' PK</p> |
<p>Following a foul on Alan Gordon in the Rapids area just as the clock ticked past regulation time, Wondo sent a powerful right-footed penalty kick goal to the upper left corner to secure an important road victory.</p> |
<p>13). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDy_wtuxxac&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>6/23</p> |
<p>W 2-1 at Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>GWG 84', Gordon, Morrow</p> |
<p>A fabulous goal from Wondo came as he redirected a flicked on header from Gordon off the outside of his right boot and through the arms of RSL ‘keeper Nick Rimando.</p> |
<p>14). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q0b5L8nNl8&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>6/30</p> |
<p>W 4-3 vs. LA Galaxy</p> |
<p>GWG 61', Corrales, Chavez</p> |
<p>With a sellout crowd of over 50,000 supporters at Stanford Stadium cheering on the team, a corner kick from Chavez was flicked into the six-yard box by Corrales for a waiting Wondo to deflect in with the back heel of his right foot to tally the final goal in the seven goal affair.</p> |
<p>15). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCiEuGOPk9E&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>7/14</p> |
<p>W 5-0 vs. Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>GWG 18', Morrow, Gordon</p> |
<p>Justin Morrow kicked a ball toward frame following a poor clearance on a corner kick that Wondo headed in at the left post.</p> |
<p>16). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCiEuGOPk9E&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>7/14</p> |
<p>W 5-0 vs. Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>72', Salinas</p> |
<p>Salinas drove the ball to the endline before squaring a pass to Wondo to toe poke with his right foot from close range.</p> |
<p>17). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCiEuGOPk9E&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>7/14</p> |
<p>W 5-0 vs. Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>80', Stephenson</p> |
<p>Stephenson split the defense with a pass to Wondo that he turned and fired with his right foot inside the left post to complete a hat-trick scoring performance against RSL.</p> |
<p>18). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkAN50p5WJE&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>8/18</p> |
<p>L 1-3 at Montreal Impact</p> |
<p>23' PK</p> |
<p>Wondo completed a penalty kick conversion with a right footed shot inside the left post to open the scoring, but the Quakes could not hold on to the lead and lost at Stade Saputo.</p> |
<p>19). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G2C3ykYUf8&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>9/15</p> |
<p>W 2-0 at Chivas USA</p> |
<p>GWG 40' PK</p> |
<p>Following an off the ball foul on Gordon in the area, Wondo stepped up to the spot and converted a penalty kick with a right footed shot up the middle right in front of the Chivas supporters.</p> |
<p>20). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSuYh0B80hI&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>9/19</p> |
<p>D 2-2 vs. Portland Timbers</p> |
<p>73', Lenhart, Gordon</p> |
<p>A fired up Wondo stormed off the substitutes’ bench with his team down two goals to convert a left footed shot from the top of the area that started with flicked on passes from Gordon and Lenhart.</p> |
<p>21). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSuYh0B80hI&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>9/19</p> |
<p>D 2-2 vs. Portland Timbers</p> |
<p>GTG 92'</p> |
<p>With stoppage time running out on the Quakes, Cronin sent a desperation long ball into the area that was deflected by defender Hanyer Mosquera right to Wondo at the far post. He calmly headed the ball past the Timbers ‘keeper to salvage a draw for San Jose.</p> |
<p>22). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fnmGX9cJEg&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>9/22</p> |
<p>W 2-1 at Seattle Sounders</p> |
<p>GWG 30', Bernardez</p> |
<p>Following a botched clearance on a corner kick, Victor Bernardez sent a hard cross back through the six yard box that Wondo knocked in off his left boot past a helpless Michael Gspurning.</p> |
<p>23). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxVNKGyiok8&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>10/6</p> |
<p>W 4-1 at Colorado Rapids</p> |
<p>GWG 11', Baca, Chavez</p> |
<p>Following a well-weighted pass from Baca, Chavez raced down the left wing and sent a cross back into the area that Wondo chested into the goal from close range.</p> |
<p>24). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxVNKGyiok8&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>10/6</p> |
<p>W 4-1 at Colorado Rapids</p> |
<p>51'</p> |
<p>A deflected ball in the area bounces free 20 yards from goal and Wondo capitalizes to send a low shot with his right foot on target that deflects off Drew Moor and into the goal.</p> |
<p>25). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxVNKGyiok8&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>10/6</p> |
<p>W 4-1 at Colorado Rapids</p> |
<p>83', Cronin</p> |
<p>Cronin delivered a perfect pass to split a pair of defenders that Wondo calmly collected and turned toward goal before firing low with his right foot into the back of the net.</p> |
<p>26). <a href="//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNVdOqvI-FY&feature=youtu.be">Click Here to Watch</a></p> |
<p>10/21</p> |
<p>D 2-2 vs. LA Galaxy</p> |
<p>GTG 73', Chavez</p> |
<p>Trailing by a goal to rival LA, Chavez sent in a low corner kick into the mixer that Wondo, with defenders all around him, headed home at the left post.</p> |
Robert Jonas is a writer for CenterLineSoccer.com and SJEarthquakes.com. Send him feedback on Twitter: @RobertJonas
