Columbus Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch today was chosen as the Honda MLS Player of the Week by the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA) for Week 3.
Busch earned his second shutout of the season as The Crew held on to defeat D.C. United 1-0 on Friday, April 15, in Crew Stadium. Busch, who was chosen the September 2004 MLS Player of the Month, earns his first Player of the Week honor.
In the nationally televised game on ESPN2, Busch denied United's offense on several occasions throughout the night, making six saves in the shutout. Having stopped a Santino Quaranta blast in the early moments and Jamil Walker's point-blank header in the 33rd minute, it was his two second half highlight-reel saves that preserved the Crew win.
With the additions of Christian Gomez, Jaime Moreno and Alecko Eskandarian in the second half, United's offense continued to press and nearly evened the score. In the 69th minute, Gomez sent a dangerous free kick into the penalty area, which Crew forward Ante Razov inadvertently flicked back to the far post as he tried to clear it. Busch made a superb diving save to his left to maintain the Crew lead.
"It was a team effort. Some days I have to work harder than others," Busch told the Columbus Dispatch after the game. "I was fortunate tonight to make a few saves to get the three points."
United's last chance to tie came during injury time. Moreno met a Freddy Adu ball with a diving header on the back post only to once again be denied by the outstretched fingers of Busch.
Busch narrowly beat out FC Dallas' Ronnie O'Brien and the MetroStars Sergio Galvan Rey for the weekly honor. The Honda Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected every week throughout the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA). Busch is the second Crew player to win the award this season. Edson Buddle won the award in Week 1 for his two-goal performance vs. L.A. Buddle also scored the lone goal in Friday's win vs. D.C.
The Crew (2-1-0, 6 pts.) will make its second road trip of the 2005 season this weekend when the Black & Gold head to Denver to face the Colorado Rapids (0-2-1, 1 pt.) on Saturday, April 23, at 9:00 p.m. at INVESCO FIELD at Mile High.
Saturday's game in Colorado is not televised locally but can be heard in English on 103.9, TED-FM, or online at TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com.
The Crew returns home on Saturday, April 30, when they face Chicago at 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium.
2005 HONDA MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNER
Week 1: Edson Buddle (Columbus Crew)
Week 2: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 3: Jon Busch (Columbus Crew)
