Lucas Zelarayán struck twice in the waning minutes against NYCFC last weekend. (Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports)
Having already shown off his free kick prowess in a high-profile setting in his first MLS season, Lucas Zelarayán of the Columbus Crew stepped into the league’s pantheon of free kick wizards with his performance last weekend.
With his club down a goal in the 82nd minute at New York City FC, Zelarayán ripped a stunning free kick past the wall and into the roof of the net for the equalizer. Then in stoppage time, Zelarayán stood over the ball on the other side of the field near the edge of the penalty area, and curled a masterful effort inside the near post for the match-winner in the Crew’s 2-1 victory.
Zelarayán became the sixth player in Major League Soccer history to score twice from direct free kicks in the same game (since records are available beginning with the 2003 season). He became the second Columbus Crew player to do it, after Federico Higuaín (now with Inter Miami CF) netted a pair in a 2012 game.
Lucas Zelarayán | 5/22/2021 | CLB at NYC |
Kevin Kratz | 4/28/2018 | ATL vs MTL |
Sebastian Giovinco | 7/23/2016 | TOR vs DC |
Federico Higuaín | 8/25/2012 | CLB vs NE |
Ramiro Corrales | 9/2/2012 | SJ vs CHV |
Dwayne De Rosario | 9/18/2010 | TOR at HOU |
Zelarayán has become the 12th player in MLS history to record at least three goals directly from free kicks in a season, also netting one May 8 vs. D.C. United, the first goal scored by the Crew this season. Still with 28 games to play, Zelarayán is chasing the single-season record of 6, set by Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco in 2017.
Zelarayán has now scored four goals directly from free kicks in his MLS career – the first coming last July 11 vs. FC Cincinnati at the MLS is Back Tournament, a strike which was a finalist for goal of the tournament honors.
Sebastian Giovinco | TOR | 6 | 2017 | FW |
Sebastian Giovinco | TOR | 5 | 2015 | FW |
David Beckham | LA | 4 | 2012 | MF |
Lucas Zelarayán | CLB | 3 | 2021 | MF |
Laurent Ciman | LFC | 3 | 2018 | DF |
Didier Drogba | MTL | 3 | 2016 | FW |
Didier Drogba | MTL | 3 | 2015 | FW |
Michel | DAL | 3 | 2014 | MF |
Camilo | VAN | 3 | 2013 | FW |
Jeff Larentowicz | COL | 3 | 2011 | MF |
Dwayne De Rosario | TOR | 3 | 2010 | FW |
Marko Perovic | NE | 3 | 2010 | MF |
The goal in the fourth minute of added time marked the sixth time in league annals a game-winning goal came from a direct free kick in stoppage time, the first time since the 2016 season.
Juan Pablo Ángel | 94+ | 6/2/2010 | NYR 2 vs HOU 1 |
Dwayne De Rosario | 94+ | 9/18/2010 | TOR 2 at HOU 1 |
Luis Silva | 91+ | 4/3/2015 | DC 1 at ORL 0 |
Didier Drogba | 94+ | 5/28/2016 | MTL 3 vs LA 2 |
Cristian Maidana | 95+ | 7/2/2016 | HOU 1 vs PHI 0 |
Lucas Zelarayán | 94+ | 5/22/2021 | CLB 2 at NYC 1 |