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MLS is Back: Ranking the 10 best goals from the group stage

Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The MLS is Back Tournament has had a bit of everything. There have been two teams sent home, nine red cards, and countless defensive blunders in 36 group stage matches over a congested 16-day slate. There have also been 99 goals, many of which highlight the attacking prowess and craft of the league's best. Here's a look at the 10 best goals of the group stage.

10. Shea Salinas (San Jose Earthquakes)

Is there a worse way to lose a seven-goal thriller than Salinas' 98th-minute solo run and strike against the Vancouver Whitecaps?

9. Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC)

One benefit of spectator-less matches is robust efforts like Akinola's sound like slamming a pack of ramen noodles on the table.

8. Federico Higuain (D.C. United)

Class is permanent. Look no further than former Columbus Crew luminary Higuain, who opened his D.C. United account in style against Toronto.

7. Chris Mueller (Orlando City)

Mueller is having himself one heck of a group stage, something USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter has probably taken note of.

6. Memo Rodriguez (Houston Dynamo)

Homegrown Dynamo talent Rodriguez scored twice against LAFC, with this bit of trickery amounting to the best of the pair.

5. Robert Beric (Chicago Fire)

One of 17 newcomers on the Fire squad, striker Beric displayed a deft touch to evade the defender before scoring this peach of a goal.

4. Frankie Amaya (FC Cincinnati)

Amaya, the first overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, kept FC Cincinnati's tournament hopes intact with this match-winner versus Atlanta United.

3. Jesus Medina (NYCFC)

NYCFC have been poor under Ronny Deila (Celtic supporters nod in unison) but at least they've got this rocket from Medina to show for their efforts.

2. Mohamed El-Munir (LAFC)

Like salt in an open wound, LAFC scored five unanswered goals to humiliate their rivals, the LA Galaxy, 6-2. El-Munir's obscene strike was the pick of the lot.

1. Lucas Zelarayan (Columbus Crew)

Crew club-record signing Zelarayan has been one of the revelations of the tournament. It helps that he can do things like this.

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