The Vancouver Whitecaps FC have scored three goals so far this season, and all of them have been beauties — two, in fact, have been nominated for MLS Goal of the Week. Gershon Koffie got a nod for finishing off a lovely five-way passing play in the opening week, and now Daigo Kobayashi is up for Week 2’s award with a spectacular long-range strike that opened the scoring against the Columbus Crew.

Koffie stole the ball at midfield, and deftly tapped it to Darren Mattocks, who turned to his right and gave it to Kobayashi in the sixth minute of play. The Japanese midfielder dribbled twice, then delivered a high, hard shot up and over the Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, who was cheating forward with the play upfield. It was a remarkable strike that set the tone for the remainder of the half; the Whitecaps were unlucky not to be up by three or four at the break.

After the jump, check out video highlights of the nominated goals, and information about the (free!) Whitecaps scrimmages happening this week.

Other contenders for the award this week:

• At the hostile Portland Timbers home field, Hassoun Camara of the Montreal Impact hits an acrobatic bicycle kick to the far post from 16 yards out. This is an impressive solo effort by Camara, marred only by the fact that the Timber defense on this set piece is atrocious.
• After a nice dish from a teammate to put him clear, Colorado Rapids forward Jamie Smith lofts a lazy left-footer into the top corner against the Philadelphia Union.
• Juan Agudelo scores the most rare of animals: a goal for Chivas USA. He deposits the ball behind the FC Dallas keeper after protecting the ball from a defender with a behind-the-back dribble to his left.
• Adam Jahn scores the tying goal for the San Jose Earthquake goals against the New York Red Bulls with just seven minutes left on the clock, diving onto a dramatic cross in the six-yard box.

Click here to vote on the plays of the week.

Note that the Caps will be holding scrimmages against three university sides during their bye week. While veteran players will rest for the week, these matches give hardcore fans an extra look at players on trial with the team, development projects, residency program members and younger players who may build the franchise’s future (like speedster Erik Hurtado). The first comes against the UBC Thunderbirds on Thursday, March 13 at 12:30 pm at Thunderbird Stadium. The other two games are at 1 pm on Saturday, March 15 at the University of Victoria Vikes, and on Tuesday, March 18 against the SFU Clan — interestingly that game won’t be up on the Hill, but will rather take place at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium at 5 pm. All three games are free to the public.