GOAL: Daigo Kobayashi knuckler fools Stefan Frei
Goal! Seattle Sounders FC 0-1 New England Revolution. Daigo Kobayashi (New England Revolution) shot from 25 yards out scores in the center of goal.
Out of contract following 2017 season.
Kobayashi has made his name in MLS as a box-to-box midfielder and is one of the first player's off the bench for Revs head coach Jay Heaps. He is in the midst of his 17th professional season after playing for clubs in the Japanese J-League, Greece, and Norway.
OUTSIDE MLS: Began his career in 2001 with Japan’s Tokyo Verdy, where he played for five seasons (2001-2005) appeared in 135 matches for Tokyo Verde, scoring 10 goals. Kobayashi moved to Omiya Ardija of Japan’s J-League and stayed with the club for three seasons (2006-2008) where he made 55 appearances and scored nine goals. Spent the 2009 season with Stabaek in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, where he helped the Norwegian side finish third in league standings, after which he spent 18 months (2010-11) with Greek Football League side Iraklis FC and appeared in 18 matches before returning to J-League side Shimizu S-Pulse.
INTERNATIONAL: Has one cap with the Japan national team, which came in Tokyo in a friendly against Trinidad & Tobago. In 2003, Kobayashi helped lead Japan to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA Under-20 World Cup). He is a former member of Japan’s Under-18 and Under-20 squads.