Chris Wondolowski has been a world apart ever since the World Cup.
Opponents know who they have to stop. But they can’t stop Wondo.
"He has such an instinct for the goal,” coach Mark Watson said. “He makes something out of nothing. He knows where to be. He just has that instinct to find goals."
Since returning from duty in Brazil, Wondolowski, a proud papa, has been goal scoring machine in the penalty box. He has eight goals and four assists in 12 games overall, and has a goal or an assist in nine games. He scored his 13th goal of the season in a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy on Sept. 14 at Buck Shaw Stadium.
Wondolowski has surged into a tie for sixth place in MLS in scoring, along with Seattle’s Obafemi Martins and New England’s Lee Nguyen. Plus, he tracks back on defense. He argues the team’s case after controversial calls. He leads by example. The goals are like garnish on the plate.
“Every week he pops up in the score sheet, again and again. Remarkable,” Quakes general manager John Doyle said of Wondolowski. “We haven’t had a ton of chances, but his conversion rate has been good the past six to eight weeks.”
In an epic five-year run, Wondolowski has scored 85 of his 92 career goals since the beginning of the 2010 season, including a league-record-tying 27 goals in the team’s rise to the 2012 Supporters’ Shield. He is vying to become the ninth player in MLS history score 100 career goals.
Wondolowski, known for his perfectly timed runs, has accepted even more responsibility this season. Injuries to Clarence Goodson, Matias Perez Garcia, Yannick Djalo and Steven Lenhart, along with the trade of Alan Gordon, have put more of the burden on Wondolowski’s shoulders.
He has embraced the challenge, teaming well up top with homegrown signee Tommy Thompson and winger Shea Salinas.
Even still, Wondolowski was glad to have the tough-minded Lenhart back last week.
"I love having Lenhart's battle, his fight,” Wondolowski said. “He comes right in and doesn't miss a beat. It's good to have him back."
Wondolowski knows what it will take to start turning those frustrating ties into wins down the stretch.
"It might sound like a broken record, but when we do the little things and connect passes, we're a good team and can play with anyone,” Wondolowski said after the Galaxy game. “But when we don't do that; we don't track back; win our 50-50 battles; or connect passes; we can get ourselves in some serious trouble."
In an uplifting 1-1 draw against the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field on Aug. 20, Wondolowski had the tying goal off a nifty Cordell Cato assist.
“Wondo did what he always does, he put it in the net,” Cato said.
Seemingly at home in hostile environments, Wondolowski also had a brace and an assist in a 3-3 draw at Portland on Sept. 7. His first goal came after a Salinas shot off the post; the second on a pinpoint header off a Salinas cross.
“His second goal was just good movement,” Watson said. “He's between the two center backs; he wants that indecision between them, and it was a great ball. He got between them and the finish was perfect. That's just Wondo. He can be quiet for large parts of the game, but he can strike at any time."
