From a USMNT perspective, a look at the MLS goalscoring charts isn’t a heartening experience. With 13 goals in 27 games — four of them coming in one match against a lifeless Chicago Fire — 36-year-old Chris Wondolowski is the top goalscoring American. In second is Gyasi Zardes, who has more than a half-century of caps and only one important goal in his international career. That was a tap-in from less than a yard out.
So it’s pretty damn satisfying to watch this brace from 20-year-old Minnesota United striker Mason Toye at the home of Supporters’ Shield favorites LAFC last night.
Toye was selected with the 7th pick of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft after a standout collegiate career with the Indiana Hoosiers. However, after totaling only 340 MLS minutes, no goals and a quiet loan to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks during his rookie career, it was easy to write him off. Heading into the 2019 season, he was Minnesota’s third choice striker behind Ángelo Rodríguez and Abu Danladi.
But after his performance against LAFC last night, Toye now has six goals and three assists in 11 appearances. The majority of those have only been sporadic appearances off the bench — he’s only started four games.
His minutes have also been limited by a two-game suspension he picked up after spitting at an FC Dallas opponent back on August 10. It was a despicable incident, but rather than let that be the defining moment of his career, Toye has immediately accepted responsibility for his actions and pushed himself forward.
Nick Saban on Second Chances
“There’s always a lot of criticism outthere when somebody does
something wrong. Everyone wants to
know how you are going to
punish the guy. There’s not a lot
of people out there saying: Why
don’t you give him a another
chance?” pic.twitter.com/O1bFjfISGx
— Jaycob Ammerman (@Jammer2233) August 6, 2019
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