The fact that left back Jordan Harvey got on the scoring sheet for the third time in MLS this season is a milestone unto itself. But his strike against Chivas USA on Wednesday night has an even greater historical significance.
Harvey's fifth career tally in first-half stoppage time was also the 10,000th MLS goal in regular season history, etching his name into the league record books.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, of the 10,000 goals scored all-time, 9,027 have come from open play (including direct free kicks). The rest have come through penalty kicks (759) and own-goals (216).
And plenty of those goals were scored late in matches. In fact, Elias reports that 2,257 of the goals were came in the final 15 minutes of regular-season games. No surprise that the opening 15 minutes featured the fewest goals (1,214).
For stats lovers out there, it only gets better. Another milestone awaits right around the corner: The next player to score his first career MLS goal will be the 1,000th different scorer in league history (not including own-goals).
GOALSCORING MILESTONES:
Goal #1: Eric Wynalda (SJ) -- April 6, 1996 vs. DC
Goal #1,000: Thomas Dooley (CLB) -- Sept. 14, 1997 vs. KC
Goal #2,000: Alex Bunbury (KC) -- July 3, 1999 @ TB
Goal #3,000: Sasha Victorine (LA) -- May 9, 2001 @ TB
Goal #4,000: Mark Chung (COL) -- June 25, 2003 vs. LA
Goal #5,000: Andy Williams (RSL) -- Aug. 6, 2005 vs. CHV
Goal #6,000: Brian Ching (HOU) -- July 27, 2007 @ NE
Goal #7,000: Chris Wondolowski (HOU) -- May 16, 2009 @ NY
Goal #8,000: Dwayne De Rosario (TOR) -- March 19, 2011 @ VAN
Goal #9,000: Martín Rivero (COL) -- May 6, 2012 @ DAL
Goal #10,000: Jordan Harvey (VAN) -- June 19, 2013 vs. CHV
