On Wednesday night, Sebastian Giovinco scored the MLS goal of the year. It was an incisive solo run that left several defenders in his wake. The crowd’s roar rose in unison with his advanced on goal. By the time his left-footed shot from a difficult angle glided inside the far post, everyone in the stadium knew they had just witness an all time great goal. It might even be the greatest Toronto FC goal of all time.
But what makes it truly special is that Giovinco was in Italy, playing a European qualifying match the previous day. In fact, he didn’t even get off the plane in Toronto until 3:45 PM, an hour and fifteen minutes before the 5:00 kick off time of the game in which he would score that incredible goal.
Vanney: "Seba's plane landed at 3:45 PM and he came straight to the stadium." #TFCLive
— Toronto FC (@torontofc) October 15, 2015And he didn’t play a small role in that match in Rome either. he may have come on in the 62nd minute, but he came into the game at a time when Italy was down 1-0 to Norway. He then provided the assist for the equalizer, and Italy would take a lead it would never relinquish soon after.
As if he needed anything else to make him look superhuman, the goal that Giovinco scored for Toronto FC guaranteed the club qualification for its first ever playoffs.
A likely MLS goal of the year, clinching qualification, and best Toronto FC goal ever. It’s not everyday you see someone kill three birds with one stone.
Now, as the general hysteria among MLS fans quiets down, as people stop putting his name and Lionel Messi’s in the same sentence, as Toronto gets ready to play its first ever playoff game, Giovinco can focus on the next task. He and his teammates will play in a first round playoff game for the first time in Toronto’s history at the end of October. Hopefully, this time everyone will have a leisurely travel schedule.
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