The goal was a record-setter, in more ways than one. It also came in dramatic fashion.
Former Furman Paladin Walker Zimmerman scored his first professional goal, a header in the 90th minute, to help FC Dallas earn a 2-2 draw versus Sporting Kansas City and extend its 13-match home unbeaten streak in Frisco, Texas.
Not only was it Zimmer-man’s first professional goal, it turned out to be the 1,000th goal ever scored in Major League Soccer history.
Zimmerman entered the game as a substitute to begin the second half, and helped FC Dallas rally from a 2-0 deficit to earn the draw.
Zimmerman, who earned Southern Conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2011 and was named Furman Male Athlete of the Year this past May, beat his defender to the top of the six-yard box on a corner kick from David Ferreira in the final seconds. He headed the cross off of the outstretched hand of the Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen to score his first goal in just his fourth appearance for the club.
“I really had a clear path straight to the ball,” Zimmerman said. “A great ball put in by David and I just got my head on it and attacked it.”
Zimmerman entered the match as a halftime replacement for Matt Hedges, who injured his right calf.
A 2012 College Soccer News and NSCAA All-American selection, Zimmerman tallied 11 goals and totaled five assists as a two-year starter for the Paladins at center back.
The Lawrenceville, Ga., native got a late start to the 2013 MLS season due to injury that also caused him to be left off of the United States’ U-20 National Team roster for this month’s World Cup in Turkey.
Zimmerman, who earned his first start versus San Jose earlier this month, was taken by FC Dallas as the seventh overall pick in January’s MLS SuperDraft.
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