Toronto FC forward Joao Plata voted MLS Player of the Week
May 9, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Monday, May 9, 2011) - Toronto FC forward Joao Plata was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 8 of the 2011 MLS season. The 19-year-old Ecuadorian recorded his first MLS goal and first assist in his team's 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo at BMO Field.
Early in the second half, Nick Soolsma picked off a pass in the Dynamo defensive line. As he advanced into the penalty area, Soolsma was taken down by André Hainault. Plata immediately picked up the ball to take the ensuing penalty kick, confidently smashing it underneath the crossbar and past goalkeeper Tally Hall.
With Toronto leading 1-0 in the 81st minute, Soolsma sprung Plata on the left wing. Plata dribbled at his defender and slid the ball into the path of Maicon Santos, who took a touch before firing it past Hall into the far low corner. Santos' strike proved to be the game-winner after Lovell Palmer's late tally for Houston.
Plata was selected in the third round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft as the 49th overall pick. Five players new to MLS in 2011 have won the Player of the Week award so far this season (see list below). Despite his youth, Plata entered MLS with professional experience at Liga de Quito in Ecuador and therefore he is not considered a rookie. He is a member of Ecuador's under-20 national team.
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 and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
2011 MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNERS
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:
Mamadou "Futty" Danso, POR vs. PHI (text G1)
Charlie Davies, DC vs. SEA (text G2)
Colin Clark, HOU vs. COL (text G3)
Thierry Henry, NY vs. LA (text G4)
Maicon Santos, TOR vs. HOU (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 Brek Shea of FC Dallas.
Major League Soccer Stories from May 9, 2011
- Timbers Weekly Update - Portland Timbers
- Weekly Update: Chivas USA Head to New York to Face the Red Bulls on Sunday - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Sounders FC News & Notes - Seattle Sounders FC
- Team Manager Peter Nowak to Attend "Match of Stars" Charity Event in Poland - Philadelphia Union
- Shanosky Called into U.S. U-20 National Team/Shanosky - D.C. United
- New York Red Bulls Weekly Update - New York Red Bulls
- Chicago Fire Travel North to Tussle with Toronto FC - Chicago Fire FC
- Plata Voted MLS Player of the Week - Toronto FC
- D.C. United, Volkswagen Announce Partnership with Popular SoccerFest Tournament - D.C. United
- Toronto FC forward Joao Plata voted MLS Player of the Week - MLS
- Rapids look to finish three-game road stretch with a win - Colorado Rapids
- Tickets on Sale Now for July 20 Match Vs. Everton FC - Philadelphia Union
- Red Bulls Announce New York's Got Wings Queens Soccer Club Winner - New York Red Bulls
- FC Barcelona to Face Club America and CD Guadalajara in the 2011 Herbalife World Football Challenge - MLS
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
