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Chicago Fire Defender Jalil Anibaba Named MLS Player of the Week

October 24, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release


CHICAGO, IL (Oct. 24, 2011) - Chicago Fire defender Jalil Anibaba was voted MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 32. Anibaba notched a first half brace as the Fire defeated the Columbus Crew 3-2 to close out the MLS regular season as winners of seven of their final 10 games.

The rookie defender opened his MLS account in the 11th minute when Pavel Pardo sent a hopeful ball into the penalty area and Anibaba glanced a header past Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Fire advantage.

The University of North Carolina product solidified his grasp on the Player of the Week Award when fellow center back Cory Gibbs sent a driven cross into the area and Anibaba tucked a well-timed, looping header over Hesmer and inside the back post. Fire defenders have accrued six goals in 2011, all of which were scored on headers in the box.

The rookie center back became only the second defender to capture the award in 2011 joining Seattle Sounders FC's Jeff Parke. Anibaba is the second Fire player to win the MLS Player of the Week award alongside Fire midfielder Marco Pappa, who took home the honor in Week 29.

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 can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

2011 MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNERS

Week 31: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC) Week 29: Marco Pappa (Chicago Fire)

Week 14: Bernardo Anor (Columbus Crew)

Week 28: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)

Week 13: Steven Lenhart (San Jose Earthquakes)

Week 27: Danny Koevermans (Toronto FC)

Week 12: Jean Alexandre (Real Salt Lake)

Week 26: Charlie Davies (D.C. United)

Week 11: Justin Mapp (Philadelphia Union)

Week 24: Lamar Neagle (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 10: Jeff Parke (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 23: Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Week 9: Justin Braun (Chivas USA)

Week 22: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)

Week 8: Joao Plata (Toronto FC)

Week 21: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)

Week 7: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)

Week 20: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)

Week 6: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

Week 19: Sanna Nyassi (Colorado Rapids)

Week 5: Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)

Week 18: Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 4: David Ferreira (FC Dallas)

Week 17: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 3: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Week 16: Joel Lindpere (New York Red Bulls)

Week 2: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)

Week 15: Mike Magee (LA Galaxy)

Week 1: Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City)

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 24, 2011


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