If the trend continues, Keegan Rosenberry's next goal will be from the halfway stripe.
As a rookie, the Union right back opened his MLS account against LA Galaxy from a yard out. In August of that season, he slammed home his second goal from just outside the penalty stripe in Columbus.
On May 18, Rosenberry scored his first goal in 21 months by firing a low laser over a crowded 25 yards and beyond MLS great Nick Rimando to finish off a rout of Real Salt Lake at Talen Energy Stadium.
Rosenberry's first goal of 2018 came in his 11th start of the season. That number is significant because it equals the number of MLS starts the right back earned in all of 2017. Rosenberry never backed away from talking about his difficult sophomore campaign, but since his third season as a pro began, he has been able to let his play speak for him. With Fabinho battling injuries, Rosenberry and Andre Blake, Philadelphia Union's last two All-Stars, have been crucial to maintaining the club's strong defensive performances. Last year, Jim Curtin could turn to Ray Gaddis when Rosenberry struggled with positioning. But this season Gaddis has been drafted into the left fullback role, and that means there is little depth behind Rosenberry if he struggles.
He hasn't.
So when the Union ran a short corner play against RSL, Rosenberry was ready; he was confident. Borek Dockal played the ball to Haris Medunjanin at the top left corner of the box. The Bosnian sent it back to Dockal, and as Ilsinho curled a run behind the offsides line on the left, Rosenberry intelligently drifted into space above the box, allowing the defense to lose him as he set up to defend a sudden transition.
Ilsino collected Dockal's pass, sized up the defense, waggled a foot and cut to his right, lifting his head and spotting his right back alone and hungry for a chance to put the match to bed. Pass, touch, liftoff. Any second thoughts and he would have been closed down.
But this season has been about second chances for Rosenberry, not second thoughts. And now he's taking those chances as he aims for a second trip to the MLS All-Star game.
Fans can cast their vote for Rosenberry to the MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target through the free MLS app and on the online ballot on MLSsoccer.com beginning June 8. Voting will end on June 20, so hurry up and vote for #KeegsAndTheGiantPeach now!
For more information on the 2018 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI presented by Target, please click here.
EA SPORTS "More Than a Vote" challenge:
One goal equals one vote.
Cast your vote for the MLS All-Stars' third forward by scoring goals in EA SPORTS FIFA 17 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One or Xbox 360. Every time you score a goal using a forward on the MLS All-Star ballot that player will receive a vote. Each goal scored equals one vote. (Voting ends June 20 at 11:55 PM PT.)
