The MLS draw between the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls left us with a lot to process.
It went a little like this (in order):
‘Oh yeah, Ashley Cole hasn’t actually retired.’
‘Oh yeah, Ashley Cole went to LA.’
‘Wait, Ashley Cole scored? An actual goal? In a competitive game?’
Heck of a time for @TheRealAC3's first MLS goal. #LAvNY #SoccerSunday https://t.co/PpgQ0QZWgf
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 8, 2016
It was Cole’s first goal since 2012, when he scored the only goal of the game as Roberto di Matteo’s Chelsea beat Stoke City.
Before that, he hadn’t found the net since 2010, when Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues wrapped up the Premier League title with an 8-0 win over Wigan Athletic.
Cole’s late strike earned a big point for the Galaxy, who had been 2-0 down going into the last 10 minutes at the StubHub Center.
But he still has more red cards than goals for the club, having been sent off against Sporting Kansas City and San Jose Earthquakes.
That didn’t stop the official Galaxy Twitter account from enjoying the moment.
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL ASHLEY COLE!!!!!! 2-2!!!! #LAvNY
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 8, 2016
At 35, is it too late for the 107-cap England defender to come out of international retirement and force his was into the Sam Allardyce’s plans for the first 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia?
Please don’t treat that as a serious question, whatever you do.