[VIDEO] MLS can be justly criticized for several facets of its play, and the current goalscoring rate of 2.55 goals per game isn't spectacular, yet more than a few of the goals have been just that. Each of the five nominees for Goal of the Week last week deserved high praise: Toronto midfielder Jim Brennan belted a 35-yarder to take the prize, yet it only edged out Maykel Galindo's 30-yard smash after bouncing up from a midfield tackle and a great free kick by Christian Gomez.

Chris Gbandi's amazing 22-yard blast off the inside of the post a yard beneath the crossbar took top honors the previous week. The nominees included a dazzling coast-to-coast Red Bull attack that involved half of the field players zipping the ball upfield to be crossed by Dane Richards and swept into the net by John Wolyniec.

Both Seth Stammler and Clint Mathis relayed the ball upfield and a clever one-two between Richards and Juan Pablo Angel set up the cross. Wolyniec played one of the midfield passes, then charged 50 yards to finish off the sequence.

Incredible strikes are dazzling yet can sometimes be dismissed as flukes. But the precision, timing, cohesion, and guile displayed by RBNY aren't borne of luck or happenstance, they are forged by training and talent. Sharp soccer produces sweet goals.