Dynamo teammate Ching scored the 6,000th goal in MLS history in 2007

May 17, 2009

Dynamo striker Chris Wondolowski made his way into the record book on Saturday night. (Getty Images)

E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- When Chris Wondolowski slid in at the back post to tap in Corey Ashe`s low cross, the Houston Dynamo forward figured he had just scored the game-winning goal for his team against the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium.

Little did Wondolowski know that he also just reached a Major League Soccer milestone. Wondolowski is a former club player for DVSC Renegades premier team. He also starred at De La Salle High School in Concord and Chico State.

Wondolowski`s 78th-minute strike was his second MLS goal of the year, but also the 7,000th goal scored in regular season play in the league`s 14-year history.

"I`ll take that, that`s awesome," Wondolowski said. "I did not know that. That`s really cool. I guess I made my way into the record book."

Brad Davis started the sequence by playing the ball wide to Ashe, who had space to run down the left side of field. Ashe sent a low cross in front of the goal to Wondolowski, who slid in and fired home the game`s first goal.

Ironically, a Dynamo player also scored the 6,000th goal in MLS history on July 22, 2007. Brian Ching scored two goals a minute apart in an eventual 3-3 draw with the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium, and his second goal in the 61st minute became the 6,000th scored in league play.

The landmark goals:

No. 1000 - Sept. 14, 1997 - Columbus`s Thomas Dooley vs. Kansas City (Mike Ammann) - 82nd minute
No. 2000 - July 3, 1999 - Kansas City`s Alex Burnbury vs. Tampa Bay (Scott Garlick) - 16th minute
No. 3000 - May 9, 2001 - Los Angeles`s Sasha Victorine vs. Tampa Bay (Scott Garlick) - 3rd minute
No. 4000 - June 25, 2003 - Colorado`s Mark Chung vs. Los Angeles (Kevin Hartman) - 12th minute (ironically, Garlick was in goal for Colorado)
No. 5000 - Aug. 6, 2005 - Real Salt Lake`s Andy Williams vs. Chivas USA (Brad Guzan) - 49th minute
No. 6000 - July 27, 2007 - Houston`s Brian Ching vs. New England Revolution (Matt Reis) - 61st minute
No. 7000 - May 16, 2009 - Houston`s Chris Wondolowski vs. New York Red Bulls (Jon Conway) -

By Dylan Butler / MLSnet.com Staff