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Casey Wins Player of the Week; Previewing Week 22 of the MLS Regular Season

Published on August 10, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey Wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 21

Rapids forward Conor Casey was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 21 of the 2009 season. Casey tallied three first-half goals for his second hat trick of the season to propel the Rapids to a 4-0 victory over Chivas USA last Saturday night. The victory improved the Rapids record to 8-6-6 with 30 points and gave them sole possession of third place in the Western Conference.

This is Casey's fourth career MLS Player of the Week award and third this season. The first two MLS Player of the Week awards won by Casey coincided with his first and second career three-goal games, Week 27 of the 2008 season and Week 3 of the 2009 season, the other coming in Week 11 of this year when Casey tallied two goals in the Rapids 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls.

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.

Stretch run heats up as MLS clubs prepare for final leg of the regular season

With two thirds of the MLS season in the books and the battle for playoff positioning on the horizon, a number of teams are striving towards a strong finish to the regular season.

The Houston Dynamo, once again, showed their resolve bouncing back from a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas to capture a victory over the SuperLiga finalists and one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference the Chicago Fire. The Dynamo took a two-goal first-half lead over the Fire only to allow them back in the match with two goals in two minutes at the beginning of the second half. Stuart Holden played hero again notching his fifth game-winning goal of the season with a penalty kick in the 83rd minute to give the Dynamo the 3-2 victory over the visiting Fire. The Dynamo remain the top team in MLS with an 11-6-5 record and 38 points. Chicago lost for only the second time on the road this season and had their five-game unbeaten streak snapped by the Dynamo. With the loss, the Fire (8-4-8, 32 points) remain in second place behind the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference.

The Columbus Crew continued their run towards a repeat as MLS Cup Champions with a resounding 3-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. The Crew are on a four-game winning streak and notched their fifth shutout in 10 matches to improve to 9-3-9 with 36 points and have only one loss in their last 17 games. With nine games remaining, the Crew face a formidable remaining schedule with games on the road versus Eastern Conference contenders D.C. United, the Chicago Fire the New England Revolution. Home games versus the Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders will prove crucial for Columbus to repeat as Supporters' Shield winners.

The Los Angeles Galaxy got their first regular season victory at Gillette Stadium defeating the Revolution 2-1 with Landon Donovan providing a wonder strike that put the Galaxy ahead. LA is 4-0-1 in their last five games and have moved into sole possession of second place in the Western Conference. The Galaxy host a marquee matchup versus Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday night.

MLS Quotables

Real Salt Lake forward Robbie Findley on Nick Rimando's outlet pass that led to Real Salt Lake's game winning goal versus the Seattle Sounders FC:

"Just some eye contact, I was probably between the 18 (yard line) and the half circle. I was able to get some eye contact and just took off."

New England Revolution assistant coach Paul Mariner on Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan's goal:

"Landon's score was probably the goal of the season. You've got to applaud him. Reis had no chance."

Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni on what he said to his son after scoring his first goal since 2005:

"You're probably going to wait an awful long time before you see another one."

Previewing Week 22: August 15-16, 2009

(All Times Eastern)

Saturday, August 15

D.C. United at Toronto FC, 4 p.m. (Telefutura)

- Both teams return to League play after exhibition games versus Spanish power Real Madrid. United, 6-4-10 with 27 points, sit one spot above conference rival Toronto FC. Toronto, currently fourth in the East (7-7-6, 27 points), have not won since July 11. The Reds last met the Red-and-Black May 9 and played to a 3-3 tie. D.C. United lead the all-time series 5-1-1. Jaime Moreno scored his 125th career goal, tying the score for United in extra time, and his 5th against Toronto, and is a key contributor to D.C.'s League-leading goals for average (1.70). Toronto has not lost at home in their last three League matches at BMO Field. Toronto's top draft pick O'Brian White is nearing full strength and the speedy forward will look to provide another scoring option up front for Toronto.

Chivas USA at New York Red Bulls, 7 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- Two clubs looking to get on the right track go head-to-head as Chivas USA takes on the New York Red Bulls. A four-game road losing streak and 321 scoreless minutes for Chivas USA and 13 winless games for New York will fuel both teams in need of a win in their first meeting of the 2009 campaign. Red Bulls newest addition Ernst Öbster scored his first MLS goal in his debut, a 2-2 tie against W Connection in the CONCACAF Champions League qualifying round, and hopes to be a changing force for New York. Chivas, 8-7-3, are fourth in the Western Conference after being shutout the last three games. Preki is in search of an offensive spark to get the Goats back in the thick of things in the Western Conference.

FC Dallas at Columbus Crew, 7 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- In the first meeting of the season, FC Dallas defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1in a game that came down to two Dallas goals in the last 10 minutes, which also snapped a nine-game unbeaten streak by the Crew. FC Dallas is hot and have won their last two games (both shutouts) heading into Crew Stadium, where the Crew have gone 6-0-4 this season and are one of only two teams that are unbeaten at home in 2009. Columbus forward Alejandro Moreno has notched two goals in his last three games supplying the game winner in a 3-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday that moved the Crew to the top of the Eastern standings. Dallas' last game was a 1-0 victory over Western Conference and League-leading Houston Dynamo (38 points). FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over the League-leading Houston Dynamo (38 points) last Thursday. Cunningham has had a recent scoring surge with eight of nine total goals coming in his last five games, including four in FC Dallas 6-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards in Week 20.

Houston Dynamo at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

- A 1-0 loss to FC Dallas did not discourage Houston as they responded with a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Chicago Fire in their second League game in four days. Houston (11-5-6, 38 points) continues to lead the West with a diverse offense and is one of three teams in the League to have three players score at least five goals this season - D.C. United and the Kansas City Wizards are the others. Houston has benefited from the return of Stuart Holden whose last two goals (in three games) were game-winners. A 1-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC extended Salt Lake's unbeaten streak at home to four games. Robbie Findley scored his second goal in three games, giving him eight goals on the season and 20 in a Real Salt Lake jersey. With 20 goals Findley eclipsed Jeff Cunningham as the all-time scoring leader in club history.

Seattle Sounders FC at Los Angeles Galaxy, 11 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The Sounders FC and the Galaxy have swapped spots in the Western Conference standings after beginning the season on opposite ends of the spectrum. Sounders FC have enjoyed enormous early season success holding steady as one of the top teams among the Western Conference. Los Angeles struggled to get their footing, but has found their form behind a six-game undefeated streak that moved them to second in the Western Conference standings (7-3-10, 31 points). Sounders FC are winless in their last three League games and have fallen to fourth in the Western Conference with a 7-5-8 record and 29 points. Budweiser Gold Boot contenders Fredy Montero and Landon Donovan, each with nine goals, will look to provide the offense spark as the teams enter the stretch run of the MLS regular season.

Sunday, August 16

Chicago Fire at Kansas City Wizards, 3 p.m. (Telefutura)

- The Fire is looking to reclaim the top spot in the Eastern Conference and currently sit in second with 32 points and an 8-4-8 record. They have proven to be the most dangerous on the road and have the best away record at 5-2-4. Chicago has scored the most goals on the road with 20. Kansas City is one of four teams in the League that has not lost a game after scoring the first goal and will be relying on team leaders Josh Wolff (six goals) and Davy Arnaud (five goals, one assist) to give them an early lead. With interim head coach Peter Vermes at the helm, the Wizards will look to rebound from a 6-0 loss to FC Dallas the last time they played - Aug. 1.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 10, 2009


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