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Published on July 6, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


FC Dallas Forward Jeff Cunningham Wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 16

FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 16 of the 2009 season. Cunningham added to his impressive goal-scoring resume with his 106th and 107th all-time MLS regular season goals, as he led FC Dallas to a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, July 4.

Cunningham showed the skill and goal-scoring prowess that put him in the top four of the League's all-time goal scoring chart with 107 goals, only one behind Kreis who sits in third place with 108. Jaime Moreno (127) and Razov (114) occupy the top two spots. With the two goals last week, Cunningham now has 17 career multi-goal games, which ranks tied for third all-time with Kreis and Moreno. Razov (22) and Landon Donovan (21) rank one and two in career multi-goal games.

This is Cunningham's 10th MLS Player of the Week award, which surpasses three other players for most all-time in MLS. Cobi Jones, Razov and Donovan have each been named Player of the Week nine times. Cunningham and FC Dallas will travel to Colorado for a Western Conference tilt versus the Rapids on Saturday, July 11 at 9:30 p.m. ET. For more on Cunningham's award click here.

The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com.

All Star Game Voting Closes Today; All-Star First XI to be Unveiled Monday, July 13 on MLSnet.com's Extra Time at 3 p.m. ET

Online fan voting and balloting for media members to select the 2009 MLS All-Star First XI closes tonight. Members of the media can make their selections by clicking this link to vote. The MLS All-Star First XI is scheduled to be unveiled on Monday, July 13 on MLSnet.com's Extra Time at 3 p.m. ET.

Media voting will comprise 25 percent of the total vote for the All-Star First XI, with coaches and general managers, players, and online fan voting each holding 25 percent of the vote to combine for the remaining 75 percent. MLS All-Star Game head coach Dominic Kinnear is scheduled to unveil his selections on Monday, July 20. Kinnear may select a minimum of five players as his selections for the 2009 MLS All-Star team.

Media planning to cover the 2009 MLS All-Star Game can now apply for media credentials online by clicking here. Media credential registration for the 2009 MLS All-Star Game will close Friday, July 17.

Midweek Trade Pays off For Galaxy as Esky Tallies Game Winner; Recap of Week 16

The LA Galaxy's midweek trade with Chivas USA paid off as Alecko Eskandarian notched the game-winning goal in his first appearance for his new club. Starting in place of injured forward Alan Gordon, Eskandarian made his presence felt in the front line. He found himself on the end of a Todd Dunivant pass, which he coolly volleyed into the left side netting with his right instep. The Galaxy acquired Eskandarian on Wednesday, July 1 from Chivas USA in exchange for allocation money and a conditional 2010 draft pick. Eskandarian had made only two starts this season with Chivas USA, scoring one goal. He increased his career goals total to 29.

Even without the services of some usual starters due to national team duty for CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Western Conference leading Houston Dynamo increased their advantage to four points over Chivas USA - who were idle - with a 1-0 road victory over the Kansas City Wizards. The Wizards, who were also missing some regulars due to CONCACAF Gold Cup, could not withstand the pressure nor could they break the defense and succumbed to a Kei Kamara goal. After the goal, Kamara pulled a white glove out of his shorts, put it on his hand and paid tribute to Michael Jackson by doing a dance to celebrate his goal. Now in his fourth MLS season, Kamara has equaled his highest goal total for a season with four goals.

Also winners this weekend were FC Dallas and the Chicago Fire. Cunningham's two strikes made the difference for FC Dallas as they were victorious over the New York Red Bulls at home. Marco Pappa and Wilman Conde notched goals as the Fire defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on the road and moved into a tie on points with D.C. United atop the Eastern Conference. Chicago has two games in hand over United.

MLS Quotables

Dynamo forward Kei Kamara on his tribute to legendary performer Michael Jackson after scoring the game winning goal:

"[It] was something I had in the pocket. Soccer is fun. And it's disappointing to see Michael gone. That's the only thing I can do to celebrate my Michael moment. I used to perform like Michael when I was a little kid back in Africa in talent shows. So I had to bring that one out."

LA Galaxy forward Alecko Eskandarian on his game-winning goal in his first game for the Galaxy, and on his surprise start after being acquired in a trade last week:

"I knew I had timed my run perfectly, so I knew I was onside. I was just hoping the linesman wouldn't blow the call. ... I had some of the guys teasing me before the game. Gregg Berhalter and Tony Sanneh were like, 'Hey, you might as well get in there and score a goal. Make this a good debut.' They kind of nurtured me into it, and it worked out just as they said."

Previewing Week 17: July 11, 2009

(All Times Eastern)

Saturday, July 11

Houston Dynamo at Seattle Sounders FC, 4:00 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- This is the first meeting between the clubs, who sit in first and third place in the Western Conference. Houston's defense, which is proving to be the best in the League, is anchored by, statistically, the best goalkeeper in the League in Pat Onstad. With eight shutouts and a miniscule 0.63 goals against average, Onstad is on top of the goalkeeping stats in both categories. Close behind is Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who ranks third in both shutouts (5) and goals against average 0.84 goals against per game. Onstad is likely to be tested by the prolific offense of Seattle, whose 1.50 goals scored per game ranks third in MLS. Fredy Montero (8 goals) and Nate Jaqua (6 goals) have combined for 14 of Seattle's 24 goals scored this season. While they have never met in MLS League play, several players know their counterparts well, as Jaqua spent the second half of the 2007 season with the Dynamo and helped lead them to an MLS Cup Championship that season. Patrick Ianni played a part in Houston's back line for three years before the expansion draft sent him to Seattle. Dynamo striker Brian Ching, along with Cam Weaver, and Craig Waibel all have history with the USL's Seattle Sounders.

Kansas City Wizards at New England Revolution, 4:00 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The teams last met on June 13 in a 3-1 Wizards victory at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. New England's Shalrie Joseph, who had the lone goal for New England in that loss, will look for help from Steve Ralston (two goals and three assists in three matches) to reverse the outcome in their second meeting. Kansas City is 18-11-7 all time versus New England, with an impressive 9-5-4 record on the road versus the Revolution. With each team in the bottom half of the standings moving into the second half of the season, this match is important for the Wizards and Revolution to keep pace with the top four teams. Both teams will look to bounce back after suffering 1-0 losses in Week 15.

Columbus Crew at Chicago Fire, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2, Deportes)

- With only one loss in their last 12 games, the Columbus Crew head into the match with confidence, but they'll need more than confidence to brush aside the Fire who the have a 10-17-1 regular season record in the regular season including a 5-9-5 record when facing Chicago on the road. The teams last met on April 25 in a 2-2 tie at Crew stadium. While the Crew have the defending MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the Fire counter with two strikers who starred for their respective national teams in Brian McBride (USA) and Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Mexico). Blanco and McBride have helped lead the Fire to the best road record in the League at 5-1-3, but it's at home where they have failed to capitalize this season. The Fire have the fewest home wins in the League, with only one. Their home record is 1-2-3 with only five goals scored.

FC Dallas at Colorado Rapids, 9:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- FC Dallas is coming off only their fourth win of the season, a 2-1 victory at home versus the New York Red Bulls. FC Dallas leads the all-time series at 23-16-8, but have not defeated the Rapids since Aug. 4, 2007. The Rapids are 2-0-2 versus FC Dallas in the regular season since that time. The Rapids find themselves on a three-game winless streak that began with the last meeting versus FC Dallas, a 1-1 tie on June 24. After two consecutive losses, the Rapids get another shot to improve their standings in the Western Conference.

Toronto FC at San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The teams have met only twice, with San Jose holding the slight edge with a 2-0 victory coming on Oct. 25, 2008 at Buck Shaw Stadium. The clubs tied their only other meeting 0-0 at BMO Field. Toronto FC is holding steady as a contender in the Eastern Conference and will look to its strong group of veterans in Dwayne De Rosario, Amado Guevara, Carl Robinson, Adrian Serioux and Danny Dichio to snatch a victory in San Jose. However, the anchor of Toronto FC has been rookie goalkeeper Stefan Frei. The Swiss-born goalkeeper moved to northern California in his teens growing up in Concordia, before starring for the University of California-Berkeley. Frei's performance thus far in 2009 has him vying for Rookie of the Year honors, and has Toronto FC position to make the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time.

Los Angeles Galaxy at Chivas USA, 11:00 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

- This is the second edition of the this season's MLS SuperClasico between the two clubs playing out of The Home Depot Center - the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA. After scoring in his first appearance as a member of the Galaxy, Alecko Eskandarian could prove to be a factor against the team that traded him to the Galaxy last week. The Galaxy lead the all-time series 8-3-5, but the teams have tied the past three meetings. Galaxy forward and last year's Budweiser Golden Boot winner, Landon Donovan, is likely to return after leading the U.S. Men's National Team to a second-place finish in the FIFA Confederations Cup.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 6, 2009


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