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The Chicago Fire closed out the 2017 MLS regular season with an embarrassing 3-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo. And with the team replete with injuries and questions lingering over the goalkeeper position, it’s safe to say a number of Fire fans aren’t feeling too great heading into our Knockout Round playoff against the New York Red Bulls this week.
But at least one good thing came out of the wreckage today.
The man just scores goals.
— Chicago Fire (@ChicagoFire) October 22, 2017
Our own @niko_nemanja is the 2017 @MLS Golden Boot winner in his inaugural year in the league! #cf97 pic.twitter.com/C4af8mjPD6
Though he didn’t add to his tally today, Nemanja Nikolic’s 24 goals over the course of the season were enough to earn him the 2017 MLS Golden Boot Award.
The player closest to Niko in the Golden Boot race was Portland’s Diego Valeri. Once he was subbed out early in the Timbers’ Decision Day clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps due to an injury, it looked like Niko would likely cruise to the award. NYCFC’s David Villa sat in 3rd place with 20 goals, and a scoring spree could’ve put him over the top.
But it didn’t happen, and Niko will be hailed as the best sharpshooter in the league for 2017.
Let’s just hope Niko isn’t done scoring yet. The postseason beckons.