Juninho Leading League in Shots From Outside the Box

When Clint Dempsey fired a potential game tying blast from outside the box against Mexico, he probably didn't know he could have joined eleven different MLS players who scored from outside the penalty area last week. Although his shot hit the crossbar, this season has seen a dramatic rise in shots from outside the box. Last weekend Tyson Wahl scored a direct free kick, and ten others scored from outside the box during the run of play.

Maicon Santos was one of the long distance goal scores last week, joining Brek Shea and the Galaxy's own Juninho for the league lead with three tallies from outside the penalty area. League-wide 67 of 353 have been scored from beyond the 18 yard line this season (18.98%). That's the highest percentage in any of the nine seasons since MLS started compiling the stat.

Landon Donovan returns to the Galaxy this weekend, but they're losing David Beckham as he goes to be with his wife Victoria who is likely giving birth this weekend the official word is he has a stress fracture on his spine. Juninho will get another chance to be creative without the shadow of two world famous players.

Feel free to use this thread to discuss Saturday's action. DC v Philadelphia is on Fox Soccer at 4 p.m. pst, and San Jose v. New York is on ESPN2 at 7:30. The US Women are on ESPN now, facing Columbia.