Derby strikes and play-off failings – Wondolowski´s MLS goals record in Opta numbers

San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski has finally passed Landon Donovan for the most regular-season goals in MLS history.

The veteran former United States striker has long been chasing Donovan’s total of 145 and seized the record against Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Wondolowski scored four goals in a 4-1 rout of the Fire to take his MLS tally to 148.

The 36-year-old twice won the MLS Cup with Houston Dynamo, while he was the league’s MVP as the Quakes won the 2012 Supporters’ Shield, but team success has dried up in recent years.

WONDO ON TOP. #Quakes74 pic.twitter.com/fa5PS0M5Xy

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 18, 2019

Yet Wondolowski now has his own piece of history and, with the help of Opta, we look at the numbers behind his achievement.

338 – It took Wondolowski 338 appearances to break Donovan’s record, with 283 of those regular-season starts.

1 – Despite his regular-season exploits, Wondolowski has scored just once in the play-offs in six appearances.

143 – The vast majority of Wondolowski’s goals have come from inside the area, with only five from outside the 18-yard box. Of the 143 from closer range, 25 have been penalties.

82 – Wondolowski’s right foot has proven most effective, with him scoring 82 times in this manner. He also netted 38 goals with his left foot and 28 with his head.

4 – Saturday’s performance against the Fire was the first four-goal game of Wondolowski’s career.

9 – Prior to the 2019 campaign, Wondolowski had scored at least 10 goals in nine consecutive seasons from 2010 to 2018.

21 – Wondolowski has scored more than once in 21 different MLS regular-season matches. That is still some way off record-holder Donovan’s 32.

12 – San Jose’s California rivals LA Galaxy have proven Wondolowski’s favourite opponent. He has scored 12 times against the Galaxy, with 11 goals coming against Vancouver Whitecaps, Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders.

146 – Chris Wondolowski is now #MLS’s all-time leading goalscorer with 146. Standalone. #WondoWatch pic.twitter.com/fvCAEeBoY6

— OptaJack (@OptaJack) May 18, 2019