Quietly, Luke Mulholland has been a consistent contributor for Real Salt Lake in his three years with the club. Every now and then, though, he makes a memorable statement in a game that elevates him to another level. Against the Columbus Crew in May was one such instance, as the English midfielder scored the first goal in a seven-goal affair that is now in the Round of 32 in the MLSsoccer.com Goal of the Year tournament.
In the 13th minute of the match, RSL won the ball on the defensive side and Mulholland played it wide to Joao Plata in the attacking third. Running at the defense, Plata played the ball back to Mulholland 25 yards from goal and there Mulholland unfurled a dancing ball that sailed just out of the reach of Steve Clark and into the top corner for the wonder strike.
His goal was among three RSL candidates initially unveiled by MLSsoccer.com this week, joining Yura Movsisyan’s goal in the Rocky Mountain Cup clinching match against the Colorado Rapids, Juan Manuel Martinez’s floating arc against D.C. United and Plata’s curling strike against the Philadelphia Union, each of which in the opening round.
In three seasons with Real Salt Lake, Mulholland has 13 goals and 11 assists, showing his versatility by playing all three roles in the midfield in RSL’s formation. This season he finished with four goals and two assists while starting in 23 of his 33 appearances, putting him first on the team in games played, seventh in games started and eighth in minutes played.
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