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Toronto's Barrett Wins Player of the Week; All-Star First XI Unveiled

Published on July 13, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Toronto FC forward Chad Barrett Wins MLS Player of the Week for Week 17

Toronto FC forward Chad Barrett was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 17 of the 2009 season. Barrett tallied two goals in Toronto FC's 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.

This is the first MLS Player of the Week Award for the 24-year-old San Diego, Calif., product. After two years at UCLA, Barrett signed a Generation adidas contract and was the third overall pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft. Barrett is in his first full season with Toronto FC after joining the club midway through the 2008 season. Barrett has eight goals and six assists in his 30 appearances with Toronto FC. Barrett and Toronto FC are back in action on Saturday, July 18 when they host the League-leading Houston Dynamo at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes).

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.

All-Star First XI unveiled today; Schelotto, Donovan and Keller highlight MLS All-Star team

The MLS All-Star First XI was unveiled today on MLSnet.com's Extra Time. Reigning Volkswagen MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto and nine-time MLS All-Star Landon Donovan were the leading vote getters named to the All-Star First XI today. Seven first time All-Stars, MLS talent from around the globe (Argentina, Sweden and Columbia) and ranging in ages from 23 (Stuart Holden) to 39 (Kasey Keller) will gather to play Everton FC at Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday, July 29 at 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN and Galavision).

2009 MLS All-Star First XI

Goalkeeper: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)*

Defenders: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo)*, Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire)*, Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)*

Midfielders: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo)*, Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution) Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)*, Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew

Forwards: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)*, Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

* Denotes first selection to the MLS All-Star Team

Seattle Sounders FC take down Houston Dynamo; Galaxy loom in West as Beckham enters the fold; Toronto tie for first in East

With a 2-1 victory on Saturday, the Seattle Sounders FC gained ground on the Western Conference leading Houston Dynamo. The Sounders FC scored a pair of unanswered goals to overcome a 1-0 deficit to improve to 7-3-7, 28 points and leapfrogged Chivas USA (8-5-3, 27 points) for second place in the Western Conference. Fredy Montero scored his team leading ninth goal of the season and moved into sole position of second place in the Budweiser Golden Boot race, Guillermo Barros Schelotto leads the Golden Boot race with 10 goals. Sounders FC defender Patrick Ianni powered home the game winning goal with a bicycle kick in the 46th minute. The rare bicycle kick goal was Ianni's first goal with the Sounders FC and only his second goal in his four-year MLS career.

The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated Chivas USA 1-0 in the 17th edition of the SuperClassico to continue to move up the ladder in the Western Conference. Edson Buddle put the Galaxy up for good in the 30th minute, sending a glancing header into the back of the net past Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton. The Galaxy have won three straight games (5-3-9, 24 points) and are tied for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Colorado Rapids heading into their Thursday night matchup with the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium. David Beckham is set to make his return to the Galaxy after an offseason loan with Italian club AC Milan.

Toronto FC got its first road victory since March 21 when the defeated the Kansas City Wizards 3-2 on First Kick weekend. Chad Barrett found his form scoring two goals to give Toronto FC a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes. With the win and the Chicago Fire's 0-0 draw with the Columbus Crew, Toronto FC (7-6-4, 25 points) moves into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference with the Chicago Fire.

MLS Quotables

Seattle Sounders FC defender Patrick Ianni on his reaction to his bicycle kick game winning goal:

"I didn't hear any reaction. Then Fredy Montero shook me sort of. I looked in the goal to make sure he wasn't joking with me or something."

Colorado Rapids defender Kosuke Kimura on his game winning strike to defeat FC Dallas 1-0:

"I just keep my head down and smashed it as hard as I can."

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan on the teams future following it's 1-0 victory over Chivas USA:

"Now we're only going to get better, with all these additions we've made, practicing together, playing together, getting David back."

Previewing Week 18: July 16-18, 2009

(All Times Eastern)

Thursday, July 16

Los Angeles Galaxy at New York Red Bulls, 8:00 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

- The Galaxy's past two visits to Giants Stadium produced scintillating matches - a stylish and fluid 2-2 draw last year that included a Galaxy goal and a shot off the post in second-half stoppage time, and a 5-4 Red Bulls victory in 2007. This season, the teams met May 2, when Landon Donovan's penalty kick goal in the 39th minute gave Los Angeles a 1-0 victory. David Beckham returns from a six-month loan with AC Milan to make his 2009 MLS debut. The Galaxy (5-3-9) are on a three-game winning streak. New York's Juan Pablo Angel has scored 28 of his 39 career goals at Giants Stadium.

Saturday, July 18

Houston Dynamo at Toronto FC, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

- Houston heads into BMO Field having allowed just nine goals on the road this season. Houston leads the League with the lowest goals against average (0.71) and shots against total, thanks to goalkeeper Pat Onstad and a solid back line. Former Dynamo midfielder Dwayne De Rosario leads Toronto in goals and shots hopes to fare better against his former club than he did in a 3-0 loss in Houston May 30. Despite a 2-1 loss in Seattle on Saturday, the Dynamo remain atop the Western Conference with a 9-4-4 record.

Colorado Rapids at D.C. United, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

- D.C. United sits third in the Eastern Conference after being ousted from first place this weekend. United rookie Chris Pontius has scored four goals and is one of only four United players to have played in all 17 league games for the Black-and-Red. Conor Casey has led the Rapids attack, scoring a team high eight goals and is third in the Budweiser Golden Boot race behind Guillermo Barros Schelotto (10) and Fredy Montero (9). The Rapids will likely regain Casey's strike partner, Omar Cummings, who was away with the Jamaican national team for the Gold Cup. United has not lost at RFK Stadium this season and leads Colorado all-time, 14-11-6.

Real Salt Lake at Columbus Crew, 8:00 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The Columbus Crew fell 4-1 to Real Salt Lake in Week 3, thanks to a goal from Kyle Beckerman and a hat trick from Robbie Findley. Prior to Real Salt Lake's four-goal outburst, William Hesmer had never conceded four goals in one game. Hesmer, who recently returned from injury, set a personal record with 11 saves in the Crew's 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire over the weekend. Hesmer is second in the League with a 78.8% save percentage, which will be useful against Real Salt Lake, who lead the League in shots taken with 220. Real Salt Lake have only one road victory this season, a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center.

San Jose Earthquakes at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- The San Jose Earthquakes are 0-6-2 on the road, allowing 18 goals in those eight games. Recently back from injury, midfielder Darren Huckerby should help the Quakes find their form. Chicago Fire forward Brian McBride has scored nine of his 78 career goals against San Jose. Chicago recently moved into first place in the Eastern Conference, tied with Toronto FC with 25 points.

Sunday, July 19

Chivas USA at New England Revolution, 6:00 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- Chivas USA sits third in the Western Conference (8-5-3, 27 points) heading into Sunday's match with the New England Revolution (4-5-5, 17 points). After beginning the season with only one loss in 11 games, Chivas USA has cooled off and dropped their last three MLS contests. Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis made a career-high 11 saves in the Revolution's 0-0 draw with the Kansas City Wizards. Sunday's game will be the first of two meetings between Chivas and the Revolution during the 2009 season.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 13, 2009


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