Should Edson Buddle be named to the U.S. World Cup team next month? The Los Angeles Galaxy striker is in stunning hot form at the moment and leads Major League Soccer with seven goals in just four games. Buddle is also combining well with American star, and U.S. team key player, Landon Donovan at the Galaxy. It’s a partnership that could work well for U.S. coach Bob Bradley on national team. If Buddle keeps up this pace, expect him to be called into the U.S. camp.
Buddle was voted MLS of the week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 4 of the 2010 MLS season. He supplied both of the Galaxy’s goals in their 2-1 victory over reigning MLS Cup Champion Real Salt Lake on Saturday at The Home Depot Center.
Buddle opened the scoring in the 12th minute heading home Donovan’s corner kick. His second goal came in the 76th minute from a great feed from Galaxy newcomer Juninho. At the top of the area, Buddle settled the ball with his left foot and blasted a right-footed half-volley past Real goalie Nick Rimando to seal the Galaxy’s 2-1 victory.
The two-goal effort was Buddle’s third multi-goal game of the campaign and the 15th in his career. With seven goals, Buddle has scored all of the Galaxy’s goals this season as the club remains undefeated, 4-0-0, through the team’s best start since 1998.
This is Buddle’s eighth career Player of the Week award: 2003 – Week 1; 2004 – Week 18 & 25, 2005 – Week 1; 2006 – Week 22; 2008 – Week 8 & 12; 2010 – Week 4).
Buddle’s seven goals are the most any player has had after four games in MLS history. Three players scored six in their first four games of a year – Raul Diaz Arce (D.C. United, 1997), Ante Razov (Chicago Fire, 1999) and Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy, 2002).
Buddle joins Ruiz – who did it twice (2002 and 2004) – by scoring goals in each of the opening four games of the season. The MLS record is five, set by Brian McBride in 1998 with the Columbus Crew.
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