Real Salt Lake midfielder Will Johnson’s flick and volley, which struck the inside of the near post behind the outstretched arms of FC Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala, was today named the 2008 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year. Johnson’s goal received the most votes in online fan voting. 

More than 500 goals were scored during the 2008 season, and according to the hundreds of thousands of fans who voted online at the League’s website www.MLSnet.com, Johnson’s turning volley from just outside of the penalty area was the overwhelming favorite. Click here to view Johnson’s winning goal.

In a must-win game for Real Salt Lake on Oct. 18, Chris Wingert started the play, centering the ball to Johnson at the top-right of the 18-yard box.  Receiving the pass with his back to goal, Johnson concocted a skillful, unexpected shot for the game-winner in a 3-1 victory that was crucial to Real Salt Lake earning the first playoff berth in club history.

Voting for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Year began with fans able to select from 35 regular season goals, including the 31 winners of the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week and four additional nominees.

Fan voting whittled that field down to five finalists. Joining Johnson in the final round of voting were Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Danny Cepero (New York), and last year’s Sierra Mist Goal of the Year winner, Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire).

Johnson, 21, a Toronto, Canada native, began his professional soccer career with the Chicago Fire before transferring to Dutch side SC Heerenveen.  Johnson returned stateside to Real Salt Lake, in a trade with the Chicago Fire in the second half of the 2008 season.  This year he started in nine games for Salt Lake, scoring two goals while helping RSL advance to the Western Conference Championship game.

On Sunday, MLS Cup 2008 will feature two clubs making their first appearance in the League’s championship game.  The Columbus Crew will play the New York Red Bulls at 3:30 ET (ABC, Telefutura and CBC) at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. 

Sierra Mist Goal of the Year Winners

2008: Will Johnson – Real Salt Lake
2007: Cuauhtémoc Blanco – Chicago Fire
2006: Brian Ching – Houston Dynamo
2005: Dwayne De Rosario – San Jose Earthquakes
2004: Dwayne De Rosario – San Jose Earthquakes
2003: Damani Ralph – Chicago Fire
2002: Carlos Ruiz – Los Angeles Galaxy
2001: Clint Mathis - MetroStars
2000: Marcelo Balboa – Colorado Rapids
1999: Marco Etcheverry – D.C. United
1998: Brian McBride – Columbus Crew
1997: Marco Etcheverry – D.C. United
1996: Eric Wynalda – San Jose Clash

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and features many stars from the United States and around the world. The League’s 12th championship game, MLS Cup 2007, takes place Sunday, Nov. 18 in Washington, D.C.   The 13 teams in MLS are: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, Red Bull New York, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC. The San Jose Earthquakes will begin play as the 14th team in 2008 and Seattle will begin play in 2009. Major League Soccer plans to expand to 16 teams by 2010, and could feature as many as 18 clubs by 2012.  For more information about MLS, log on to the League’s official web site at www.MLSnet.com.

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