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Week 24 USL-1 honors announced

September 22, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release


TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced the Team of the Week honors for the 24th and final week of the USL regular season, honoring Portland's George Josten as the USL First Division Player of the Week.

The Portland Timbers ended a surprising three-game home losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland City Stars, who had delivered the third blow in the skid the week before. The two-goal performance from Josten also helped secure outright possession of first-place as the Carolina RailHawks finished within three points with a win in their finale the following night.

In the sixth minute, Johan Claesson chested down a pass 30 yards out with his back to the goal, and fed Josten a pass up the middle of the park. As the ball bounced towards the box, Cleveland goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap left his line to challenge the play. Josten got to the ball first and chipped a high arching shot over the goalkeeper and it bounced into an open net to give the Timbers the lead; it was his first strike since July 19.

It was a night of close chances for the Timbers. In the 15th minute, Josten had a shot from 12 yards out off of a free kick by David Hayes turned away by Gilstrap. Just after the half-hour mark, Josten chased down a ball played over the top to set up shot from the fringe of the box. He fought off his defender and chipped a shot that hit off the crossbar before it was cleared from danger by a City Stars defender.

Josten struck again in the second half, finishing a low shot from near the penalty spot. From the far right edge of the box, Mandjou Keita slipped a pass through traffic into Josten with his back to goal. Josten quickly turned and fired a low shot inside the left post past the outstretched arms of Gilstrap to double the Timbers lead 2-0 in the 55th minute.

USL First Division Team of the Week

Pos Name Team Highlights

G Keith Wiggans Charleston Three saves in 0-0 draw at Rochester

D Greg Shields Carolina Led team in 2-0 win over Montreal

D Kenney Bertz Rochester Led team in 0-0 draw against Charleston

D Matt Bobo Charleston Led team in 0-0 draw at Rochester

M Jonathan Steele Puerto Rico Goal in 3-1 win at Miami

M Tsuyoshi Yoshitake Charleston Goal, assist in 3-2 win at Minnesota

M Gordon Chin Vancouver Led team in 2-1 win over Cleveland

M Ricardo Sanchez Minnesota Goal in 3-2 loss against Charleston

F Teteh Bangura Cleveland Goal in 2-1 loss at Vancouver

F George Josten Portland Two goals in 2-1 win over Cleveland

F Nicholas Addlery Puerto Rico Goal, assist in 3-1 win at Miami

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USL First Division Stories from September 22, 2009


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