I've been wondering does the MLS keep stats for PKs earned? I've felt for sometime that the guy who earns the PK doesn't seem to get any credit for the resulting goal. If stats are not kept, do you think they should be and if so how?
Yes, they do. At least they did for several years and posted them on MLSnet.com. I don't think they post them any longer but I'd be shocked if Elias no longer kept track of them.
Where is it then? I have never seen this and it is not in the historical data on mlsnet. I want to clarify that I think this would be a great stat, but I have never seen it kept. I want to see what MLS has and if you can show it to me on the site that would be great.
i am sure MLS keeps this stat, as well as MANY other stats that are not available on their website. Just because it's not on their website doesn't mean it's not sitting in a database on one of their numbers guy's computers.
For this 2005 team by team stats, go to the main MLSNET stats page and choose a team from the drop down. Chicago - Penalty Kicks Made / Attempted Ivan Guerrero (1/1), Jesse Marsch (2/3) Chivas USA - Penalty Kicks Made / Attempted Thiago Martins (1/1), Hector Cuadros (2/2) Columbus - Penalty Kicks Made / Attempted Cornell Glen (1/1), Chris Henderson (0/1), Kyle Martino (0/1), Mario Rodriguez (0/1) Colorado - Penalty Kicks Made / Attempted Chris Henderson (1/1), Jeff Cunningham (2/3) FC Dallas - Penalty Kicks Made / Attempted Carlos Ruiz (3/3) DC United - Penalty Kicks Made / Attempted Jaime Moreno (5/5) Etc. Similar stats are online in the archives on the same page.
To answer the original question, a "penalty kick earned" would be credited as a foul suffered, but not tabulated as a separate statistic.
I misread the original question. As far as I know MLS does not keep track of who gets fouled when a PK is awarded.
It's all good - the next time somebody asks "Why doesn't MLS tabulate penalty kicks made and attempted?", you'll have an answer ready!