Chivas USA forward Justin Braun voted MLS Player of the Week
Published on May 16, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Monday, May 16, 2011) - Chivas USA forward Justin Braun was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 9 of the 2011 MLS season. In Chivas USA's 3-2 win at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, Braun became the second player in MLS this season to score a hat trick (Houston's Will Bruin had one in Week 7).
Braun put Chivas ahead in the sixth minute with a beautiful strike. Nick LaBrocca played the ball to Braun out wide on the left side. Braun dribbled between Dane Richards and Jan Gunnar Solli before placing a curling, dipping shot over New York goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul and into the back of the net.
In the 31st minute, Heath Pearce chipped a free kick toward the back post. As the Red Bulls' defense watched the ball sail over their heads, Ante Jazic lunged to knock it down just before it reached the end line. Braun knifed through the crowd and tucked the ball through Coundoul's legs to give Chivas a 2-1 lead.
Early in the second half, Braun put Chivas USA up for good. Several Red Bulls defenders watched Simon Elliott's free kick curl toward the back post where an unmarked Alejandro Moreno met it with a strong header. Coundoul nudged the ball off the inside of the post, and it rolled along the goal line until Braun tapped it in.
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 9: Justin Braun (Chivas USA)
Week 8: Joao Plata (Toronto FC)
Week 7: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)
Week 6: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week 5: Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)
Week 4: David Ferreira (FC Dallas)
Week 3: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Week 2: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
Week 1: Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City)
AT&T Goal of the Week nominees, according to MLSsoccer.com
Fans and media members can submit votes via text to 22442 for any of these five strikes:
Marco Pappa, CHI vs. TOR (text G1)
Justin Braun, CHV vs. NY (text G2)
Chris Wondolowski, SJ vs. CLB (text G3)
David Beckham, LA vs. KC (text G4)
Khari Stephenson, SJ vs. CLB (text G5)
Each week's winner, determined by the total number of votes cast online and via text, is posted on Fridays.
Text "GOAL" to 22442 to get the list of nominees sent to your mobile phone each week.
Voting runs from Noon ET on Mondays until 11:59 pm PT time on Thursdays. Last week's winner was Thierry Henry of New York.
Major League Soccer Stories from May 16, 2011
- Whitecaps FC Prepare for 2011 Nutrilite Canadian Championship Final Versus Toronto FC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Reserve League Recap: United 1, Union 0 - Philadelphia Union
- Sounders FC News & Notes - Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting Kansas City Look to Get on Track against Seattle - Sporting Kansas City
- Claret-and-Cobalt Looking to Avenge Last Year's Playoff Disappointment - Real Salt Lake
- Branko Boskovic Undergoes ACL Surgery - D.C. United
- New York Red Bulls Weekly Update - Red Bull New York
- Chivas USA forward Justin Braun voted MLS Player of the Week - MLS
- Chicago Fire Clash with Philadelphia Union - Chicago Fire FC
- Union host Eastern Conference rival Chicago Fire Saturday - Philadelphia Union
- Richards Hat Trick Guides Timbers U-23s to Road Win - Portland Timbers
- Braun Scores Hat-Trick and Helps Red-And-White Edge NY - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
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