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MLS Real Salt Lake

RSL FW Alvaro Saborio Named MLS Player of the Week for Week 14

July 5, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Monday, July 5, 2010) - Real Salt Lake forward Álvaro Saborío was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 14 of the 2010 MLS season. Saborío earned the distinction for the second time this season after supplying two goals just five minutes apart in Real Salt Lake's dominating 5-0 victory over the New England Revolution last Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium.

With Real Salt Lake taking a 2-0 halftime lead on goals by FW Fabian Espíndola (27') and DF Jamison Olave (47+'), Saborío struck twice in the early second half to blow the game open. In the 52nd minute, MF Will Johnson carried the ball deep into the right corner, playing the ball back into space for right back Robbie Russell. Russell, already credited with one assist on the night due to a perfect 50-yard diagonal ball from midfield on the Espíndola goal, sent a one-time offering into the box, where Saborío beat the Revolution defense to the ball and chipped it into the top corner.

Just five minutes later, Saborío added his second goal of the game, the play starting when midfield maestro Javier Morales delivered a cross once again from the right side. Saborío joined teammates Olave and Robbie Findley in the box and deftly collected the ball with his right foot, in one motion scooping the ball around his body and into the net to give RSL a 4-0 lead.

Saborío has contributed a team-high seven goals and four assists for Real Salt Lake in 2010, which has won seven and drawn two during the current nine-game unbeaten run en route to an 8-3-3 record - its best-ever start - and sits tied for second place in the Western Conference. The 28-year-old Costa Rican international was named the MLS Player of the Month for May, when his four goals and three assists helped RSL to a perfect 5-0-0 mark and the team's first-ever five-game win streak.

This marks the 15th Player of the Week honor awarded to a Real Salt Lake player in the club's six seasons of play, and the third distinction this season, following on the heels of Morales' opening week award. Jeff Cunningham has earned the honor a franchise-high five times while Saborío joins Morales and Robbie Findley with two awards each, followed by Pablo Campos, Espíndola, Chris Klein, and Yura Movsisyan having collecting the award once.

The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from 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.

2010 MLS Player of the Week Winners

Week 1: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)

Week 2: Kenny Mansally (New England Revolution)

Week 3: Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)

Week 4: Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)

Week 5: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)

Week 6: Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)

Week 7: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

Week 8: Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake)

Week 9: Emilio Renteria (Columbus Crew)

Week 10: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)

Week 11: Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

Week 12: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)

Week 13: Juan Pablo Ángel (New York Red Bulls)

Week 14: Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake)

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