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CHICAGO, Ill. - Chicago Fire midfielder Thiago today earned his first honor of the week from Major League Soccer, as the 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder's game-tying tally in the 64th minute from last Sunday's 2-1 win at the New England Revolution was named the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week for Week 5. The goal was named the winner after three days of online voting on the League's official website, www.mlsnet.com, where the tally can be seen by clicking on the Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week link.
The award-winning goal shows that the new number 10 for the Fire has not succumbed to the dreaded "sophomore" slump, as the Brazilian native received a divine over-the-top ball by Logan Pause from 15 yards out and finished it cleanly. After receiving the ball, Thiago would deftly touch the ball around onrushing Revs defender Michael Parkhurst to set himself up for a long, half-volley rocket into the opposite left side netting. The goal would lead the "Men in Red" to an eventual comeback win, as a Chris Rolfe goal just four minutes later would win it for the Chicago club, 2-1. The goal was Thiago's first of the 2006 Regular Season. The win brings Chicago out of the Eastern Conference basement and into third place within the Conference.
Thiago's spectacular finish beat out the other four candidates in this week's field, earning 31% of the vote to defeat goals from FC Dallas forward Ronnie O'Brien (22%), D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen (21%), L.A. Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones (16%) and New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman (10%). Thiago also becomes the first member of the "Men in Red" this 2006 MLS Regular Season to win the Goal of the Week award. Midfielder Justin Mapp was the last Chicago player to capture the honor, winning the award for his dramatic 92+ minute game-winning strike against the L.A. Galaxy on Oct. 2 that helped the Fire capture a 2-1 road win in Week 23.
