Kei Kamara and Sebastian Giovinco have found the back of the net more than anyone else in MLS this season. Although Kamara has held the top spot for goals scored for the majority of the season, the two attacking players are now tied with 22 a piece—perfect timing for Columbus Crew SC and Toronto FC to face off at BMO Field at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Although Kamara and Giovinco are different in almost every way except for their knack for scoring goals, they are both in the conversation for this year’s MLS MVP while contending for the Golden Boot award.
Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter says he expects the MVP race to be “interesting.”
“Those are two names that are certainly involved in that conversation, if not the two front runners,” he says. “I think it’s going to be a great conversation and I think it will depend largely on the end of the season.”
With the regular season coming to a close, these last two matches for the Black & Gold against Toronto FC and D.C. United could have a large impact on the race.
Teammate and Columbus’ leading assist distributor, Ethan Finlay, says Kamara being in contention for the League MVP is exciting.
“It’s something he’s definitely excited about," he says. "You want to play against the best and you want to compete against the best. So for him [Kamara] to be able to go up and play against him [Giovinco], it’s a battle. I think we, as a team, will try to shut Giovinco down and hope we can reward our big man.”
As the team sets out to help Kamara, Berhalter says the Golden Boot race is certainly something that’s on their minds.
“We want Kei to win the Golden Boot,” Berhalter says. “We think it’d be a great accomplishment for the team and for Kei individually. We’re all pulling for him and anything we can do in these next couple games to get him there, we’re going to do.”
One of the key factors in helping Kamara capture the Golden Boot award is shutting down Giovinco Saturday.
“Giovinco is one of the best players in the League, if not the best player,” Berhalter says. “He’s a player that can create very easily by himself. It’s not an individual effort that’s going to stop him. It’s going to be a team effort and we’re going to have to be working hard when he has the ball to deny him space and opportunity.”
The Italian national player is quick, skilled and excels in creating his own chances. Kamara has seen more success with one-touch finishes in the box, including aerial goals.
“I think what Kei’s done this year is tremendous, and I think what Giovinco’s brought to the League is incredible as well,” Finlay says. “So when you’re putting those two names in the same sentence, that says something.”
Crew SC defender and captain Michael Parkhurst says the League’s two leading goal-scorers epitomize the beauty of soccer.
“Giovinco’s all over the field and extremely dangerous one-on-one, really shifty, and Kei makes his money in the box,” Parkhurst says. “He’s fantastic up there, he holds the ball up really well, he can take the physical abuse, unlike Giovinco. They’re polar opposites, but they get the job done. That’s the beauty of soccer—there’s not just one way to play, not just one type of person that can be successful.”
