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March 30, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Kasey Keller Wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 2

Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 2 of the 2009 season. Keller recorded his second consecutive shutout victory backstopping the expansion Seattle Sounders FC to a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.

Keller, a native of Olympia, Washington, is an MLS newcomer. He has returned to his hometown team after an illustrious career abroad. Keller has played in the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and Germany's Bundesliga. He has appeared in four World Cups and holds the U.S. National Team goalkeeping record with 103 appearances and 53 wins. For more on Keller's Player of the Week honor 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/.

MLS Newcomers Paying Dividends Early

An influx of newcomers impressed in the second week of the MLS season. Over the weekend, six goals were scored by players with 11 games or less experience. Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero notched his third goal of the season and leads the early Budweiser Golden Boot race. Earthquakes forward Cam Weaver, an import from the Norwegian league, Chivas USA forwards Eduardo Lillingston a Mexican league import and Bojan Stepanovic a Serbian import all opened their 2009 scoring campaigns. Weaver recorded an assist to go along with the game-winning goal in San Jose's victory over Houston on Saturday night. Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller has recorded two clean sheets in two victories to open the season.

While technically not a newcomer, Fire forward Patrick Nyarko (11 career games), notched his second career goal. The second-year speedster from Virginia Tech provided a late game draw and a vital road point as the Chicago Fire drew at D.C. United. Nyarko has a goal and an assist in his first two games of the season, both starts for the Fire.

RSL's Kyle Beckerman to Chat Live with Fans Tuesday on ESPN Soccernet

Real Salt Lake captain and midfielder Kyle Beckerman will be chatting live with fans via ESPN Soccernet at 3 p.m. ET.RSL will play its first game in Rio Tinto Stadium this season hosting the Columbus Crew on Thursday, April 2 at 9 p.m. ET in a televised match on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.

This Week's MLS Games: April 2-5, 2009

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, April 2

Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2, Deportes)

The defending champs head west for a weekend road trip, first to Salt Lake for Rio Tinto Stadium's first home opener, then to southern California to face Chivas USA. Reigning League MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto has tallied two early season goals, but the Crew have had to settle for two ties in their first two games. Real Salt Lake, who have never won their opening game, will look to shake off the rust and get comfortable at home.

Saturday, April 4

Seattle Sounders FC at Toronto FC, 4:00 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

Seattle Sounders FC will set out on their first road trip. The fans at BMO Field will be a lot less welcoming then the Seattle supporters of Qwest Field. Seattle is looking to become the only expansion team to start its inaugural season 3-0-0. TFC comes off a season-opening road trip where it took four of a possible six points, after gaining just 10 away from home all of last year. Toronto will have Amado Guevara back from international duty. He and Dwayne De Rosario may just be the League's best midfield attacking duo.

FC Dallas at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

Besides Kenny Cooper's 60-yard bomb over Jon Busch in week one, FC Dallas has been unable to find the back of the net. In Sunday's loss to Chivas USA, Dallas took 13 shots, six on goal, but were stymied. New England return home to Gillette Stadium where they have won five consecutive games against FC Dallas and are 6-1-0 against FCD , including a season sweep in 2008. The Revolution may be one of the surprise teams through two games. With injuries depleting their starting ranks, they have gone on the road for two very tough tests and come away with four points while giving up only one goal.

Houston Dynamo at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

Both clubs enter Saturday's match winless after last week, as United allowed a late equalizer to Chicago and the Dynamo fell to San Jose 3-2. Kei Kamara could make his 2009 debut for Houston following a two-game suspension to start the season. While starting off the season with no losses in two games, D.C. United has still been frustrated to only manage two ties. With their second home game and the team gelling they will look to jump into the win column. The 2007 MVP, Luciano Emilio, scored a Goal of the Week candidate last week and will look to add to his impressive goal scoring total (32) since joining MLS in 2007.

Colorado Rapids at Los Angeles Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

Terry Cooke's impressive strike - a nominee for Goal of the Week - got the Rapids off to a good start in their home opener, a 2-1 win versus Kansas City, last weekend. They will look to build as they face a tough test against Western Conference foe the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Galaxy return to action after a week off and will have captain Landon Donovan back from international duty as they look for their first win of the season.

Sunday, April 5

New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire, 3:00 p.m. (TeleFutura)

Two of the premier target forwards meet as Juan Pablo Angel and Brian McBride face off in Chicago's home opener. The Fire swept the season series between the clubs last year, including a 5-2 win in the season finale that -- at that moment -- seemed to have eliminated the Red Bulls from the playoffs. Angel has yet to open his scoring campaign in 2009, but with five all-time goals against Chicago his confidence will be high entering the match as they look to claim their first victory of the season.

San Jose Earthquakes at Kansas City Wizards, 3:00 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

The revitalized San Jose attack is finally coming together, scoring three goals to beat Houston. Newcomer Cam Weaver tallied his first MLS goal and assist. Kansas City hopes to right the ship after starting the season with a pair of one-goal defeats.

Columbus Crew at Chivas USA, 8:00 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

Playing in their second game of the long weekend, the Crew will be happy to have Frankie Hejduk, Alejandro Moreno and Duncan Oughton back from their respective international games. Chivas USA is off to the first 2-0-0 start in team history.

MLS Players Represent Their Countries in World Cup Qualifying

Ahead of the busy MLS weekend here is a list of MLS Players representing their countries heading into Tuesday and Wednesday's International fixture dates. From Frankie Hejduk's late game heroics to David Beckham's career appearance record head here for the full scoop on all of last Saturday's international action. Below are players representing their countries this week in qualifying.

New York Red Bulls

Jorge Rojas -- Venezuela (March 31 vs. Colombia)

Carlos Johnson -- Costa Rica (April 1 vs. El Salvador)

Andrew Boyens -- New Zealand (March 31 at Thailand)

Alfredo Pacheco -- El Salvador (April 1 at Costa Rica)

Columbus Crew

Alejandro Moreno -- Venezuela (March 31 vs. Colombia)

Frankie Hejduk -- USA (April 1 vs. Trinidad & Tobago)

Duncan Oughton -- New Zealand (March 31 at Thailand)

Toronto FC

Amado Guevara -- Honduras (April 1 vs. Mexico)

Carl Robinson -- Wales (April 1 vs. Germany)

Chicago Fire

Gonzalo Segares -- Costa Rica (April 1 vs. El Salvador)

Los Angeles Galaxy

Landon Donovan -- USA (April 1 vs. Trinidad & Tobago)

David Beckham -- England (April 1 vs. Ukraine)

Houston Dynamo

Brian Ching -- USA (April 1 vs. Trinidad & Tobago)

San Jose Earthquakes

Simon Elliott -- New Zealand (March 31 at Thailand)

Chivas USA

Sacha Kljestan -- USA (April 1 vs. Trinidad & Tobago)

Jonathan Bornstein - USA (April 1 vs. Trinidad & Tobago)

Colorado Rapids

Pablo Mastroeni -- USA (April 1 vs. Trinidad & Tobago)

Kansas City Wizards

Roger Espinoza -- Honduras (April 1 vs. Mexico)

Seattle Sounders FC

Jarrod Smith -- New Zealand (March 31 at Thailand)

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