Are you serious right now, Chicho Arango?!?
Real Salt Lake's superstar pinged an AT&T Goal of the Year contender from inside his own half at America First Field, opening the floodgates in Saturday's 5-1 rout of Austin FC. The strike registered at 62.7 yards out, leaving goalkeeper Brad Stuver helpless.
Arango followed Anderson Julio's brace with two more goals for a hat trick, putting him at 16g/9a in 17 matches this season. The Colombian international sits first in the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race, three clear of D.C. United striker Christian Benteke.
"What I think has been unique for Chico's experience is he's come to a club that believes in him and that knows the difference that he can make," RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said post-match. "I think wearing the armband this year has definitely not only helped Chico, because he's a person that wants to take on responsibility, but has made our team better. And again, I can't say enough about what he means to the group, to the staff, to the club, but more importantly, to the other 10 players on the field when he's on the field with him."
With the strike, Arango became the second-fastest player in MLS history to reach 50 goals (76 games), tying him with Seattle Sounders FC's Raúl RuidÃaz. Arango now has two hat tricks and five multi-game goals this year, his second with RSL.
