Sporting Kansas City Goalkeeper Tim Melia Voted Alcatel MLS Player of the Week
April 10, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
Sporting Kansas City Goalkeeper Tim Melia directs traffic
(, Credit: Denny Medley)
NEW YORK - Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the sixth week of the 2018 MLS season.
Melia set a Sporting KC regular-season record with his career-best 10 saves in Sunday's 2-0 victory over the LA Galaxy at StubHub Center. The reigning Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year secured his second consecutive shutout as SKC sits atop the Western Conference thanks to a five-game unbeaten streak (13 points, 4-1-1 record). Melia's 20 saves on the season rank tied for third in MLS while his two shutouts tie for the league lead.
The Galaxy were stifled by Melia despite attempting 22 shots, 10 of them on target, in Sunday's match. Melia made a diving stop on Ashley Cole's long-range shot in the 43rd minute to keep the match scoreless at the half. With Sporting KC up 2-0 in the 66th minute, Melia came up with a big save on Romain Alessandrini's close-range shot from the right side of the box.
Sporting KC was able to stop a late barrage of shots by the Galaxy including a 77th minute Zlatan Ibrahimovic rocket, which Melia parried away at the left post (Watch Save). Melia made saves on two more Ibrahimovic shots to close out the match including an 81st minute save on a long-range shot and an 83rd minute stop on a free kick.
Sporting Kansas City returns to action on Sunday, April 15 to host Seattle Sounders FC at Children's Mercy Park (4:00 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes).
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the NASR and apply to join at https://www.facebook.com/soccerreporters/.
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 Sporting Kansas City Goalkeeper Tim Melia directs traffic (Denny Medley) |
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