The First Goal of the 2016 MLS Season Was a Beauty

Ah, the smell of freshly cut grass, the feeling of a brand new pair of guards shellacking themselves to your shins, and the quiet murmur of the self-deprecating American soccer fan. Yes, MLS is back, and it's actually looking pretty good right off the bat.

The 2016 MLS season kicked off today with NYCFC playing at Chicago Fire's Toyota Park, and it's already been an exciting back and forth (with a 3-1 score in NYCFC's favor at halftime). The banner highlight, however, was Thomas McNamara's opening goal for New York City. After some pretty heinous buildup play, McNamara collected the ball with space and time in front of a fairly non-committal defense, but the shot was anything but ugly as it curled in, pinging off the post and rippling the net as it rolled along the back. The best goals come with a solid challenge from the defense, but heck, it's the beginning of the season and we'll take it. Pretty stuff.

UPDATE:

Chicago is putting on a master class in horrible defending. Fucken yikes.