MLS Midweek: Caden Clark's latest golazo: 'It wasn't bad'

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Oct 15, 2020

How do you top scoring in your MLS debut?

If you're 17-year-old Caden Clark, you go out and do it again -- only better.

Clark's first goal was the winner for the New York Red Bulls in their 1-0 win at Atlanta United. On Wednesday, the Red Bulls went up to Connecticut to face overall MLS leader Toronto FC, and Clark scored the late equalizer in a 1-1 tie.

It just wasn't any goal.

Clark picked up the ball 25 yards out from Marc Rzatkowski, stumbled but maintained his balance as he eluded his marker, Marky Delgado, then took a couple of steps to his left and fired a left-footed shot into the top corner of the goal.

Toronto FC goalkeeper Quentin Westberg had no chance.

"I wish I made the save," he said, "but sometimes you need to appreciate the game and good goals being scored, and I think tonight, this young guy had a banger, so congrats to him."

The key to the play was Clark getting just enough distance from Delgado to set up his shot.

"My mind was pretty set on hitting it once I got open," he said. "Everything was kind of set up for it. So I think it was … it wasn’t bad."

The best part of the goal celebration? Red Bulls forward Daniel Royer, ahead of the play, standing with his hands in his head in disbelief.



How bad is the Galaxy? The LA Galaxy dropped a 4-0 decision at home to San Jose, extending its losing streak to six games. It's the longest since 2007, dating back to David Beckham's first season in MLS.

Playoff Watch. The Philadelphia Union became the second team to clinch an MLS playoff berth, after Toronto FC, when defender Mark McKenzie scored the equalizer in the 87th minute in a 2-2 tie at Audi Field with a long-range blast for his first career MLS goal.



Sands injured again. James Sands, who has been outstanding in midfield for NYCFC, will likely to miss the remainder of the 2020 regular season after suffering a fracture in his right foot. He only played eight minutes in the last 10 games of the 2019 regular season after breaking his collar bone.

Results:
Wednesday, October 14
Montreal 2 (Sejdic 27, Tabla 90+2) New England 3 (Manneh 13, Bunbury 20, Buksa 52).
FC Cincinnati 2 (Kubo 17 pen., Hagglund 49) Columbus 1 (Santos 45 pen.).
Orlando City 1 (Mueller 18) New York City FC 1 (Parks 43).
Toronto FC 1 (Pozuelo 23 pen.) NY Red Bulls 1 (Clark 77).
D.C. United 2 (Pines 71, Asad 75 pen.) Philadelphia 2 (Fontana 49, McKenzie 87).
Houston 1 (Quintero 75) Nashville SC 3 (Mukhtar 15, 23, Danladi 19).
Inter Miami 1 (Shea 80) Atlanta United 1 (Mulraney 83).
Real Salt Lake 2 (Martinez 11, Kreilach 26) Portland 1 (Tuiloma 77).
Vancouver 2 (Cavallini 30, 59) LA Galaxy 1 (Atuesta 83 pen.).
LA Galaxy 0 San Jose 4 (Lima 44, 90+3, Rios 52, Thompson 76).

Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire