Balboa's bike named Goal of the Year

New York (Monday, October 9, 2000) -. Major League Soccer fans once again had the opportunity to select the MasterCard Goal of the Year, an annual award given to the player whose goal is judged to be the most spectacular effort during the regular season. MLS announced today that Colorado Rapids' defender Marcelo Balboa captured the 2000 honor for his tremendous bicycle kick on April 22 at Columbus Crew Stadium. Balboa put the Rapids on top in the 55th minute, when he slammed home the acrobatic kick off a long cross from Andres Limpar. Some observers have referred to the score as the "greatest goal" in MLS history.

Balboa outdistanced a brilliant long-range strike by the Chicago Fire's Hristo Stoitchkov and an impressive bicycle kick by Kansas City Wizards midfielder Miklos Molnar. The media originally narrowed down the top 25 goals to the league's top three scores. After three finalists were announced, fans were then able to view the final three goals by watching video clips and submitting their vote at www.MLSnet.com, the league's official web site.

"I was excited once I landed on the ground and saw the ball coming out of the net," recalled Balboa. "After I missed the one in '94 and everyone talking about how that would have been the greatest goal ever, I was glad to make one six years later. As a kid you dream about scoring a goal like that, I've always wanted to do a bicycle kick and score a goal like that. By far, that has to be the best goal I've scored in my career."

D.C. United's Marco Etcheverry was last year's recipient as well as the 1999 and 1997 winner while Columbus striker Brian McBride and former San Jose forward Eric Wynalda won the distinguished honor in 1998 and 1996 respectively.

The final 25 goals for the MasterCard Goal of the Year were narrowed based on the player's tremendous finish, individual brilliance, creativity, along with the build-up and importance of the goal. Voting results for the 2000 award and previous winners follow:

2000 MasterCard Goal of the Year Rank Player Team Pct. of Votes 1. Marcelo Balboa Colorado Rapids 62% 2. Hristo Stoitchkov Chicago Fire 20% 3. Miklos Molnar Kansas City Wizards 18%

As the Chicago Fire and Kansas City Wizards prepare for MLS Cup 2000 at RFK Stadium on Sunday, October 15 (televised live on ABC Sports at 1:30p.m. ET), Major League Soccer will unveil 12 of the league's prestigious end-of-season awards from October 9 - October 14.