COLUMBUS, Ohio - Columbus Crew forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto was selected as Major League Soccer's Player of the Month for July after tallying three goals and an assist in the Crew's four league matches.
The Crew has won five of its last seven games after a slow start and Barros Schelotto has been one of the keys. He ranks second in the league in assists with seven, and has four goals in the first 13 games of his MLS career. His performance has helped the Crew march up the Eastern Conference standings.
Barros Schelotto started the month of July with a solid performance against the Colorado Rapids on July 4, as his work on both sides of the ball helped earn the Crew a tie and an important point on the road. On July 7, the La Plata, Argentina, native smashed home a 76th-minute penalty kick past Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando, which was the eventual game-winner in a 2-0 home victory.
The following weekend Columbus traveled to The Home Depot Center to take on Chivas USA, the club with the best home record in MLS. After falling behind early in the contest, the Crew equalized in the 23rd minute when Barros Schelotto's pass found Stefani Miglioranzi, whose strike evened the game and threatened to end Chivas USA's undefeated record at home. A late own-goal sent the Crew to its first loss in five games.
Barros Schelotto gave his best July performance in the Crew's final league game of the month. Early in the second half a series of one-touch passes in the middle of the field released Frankie Hejduk down the right wing. The Crew captain sent a lofted cross into the middle of the area where an unmarked Barros Schelotto calmly put the ball in the net with a right-footed volley. Just six minutes later, Barros Schelotto doubled the Crew's lead with a sublime dipping free kick that beat Toronto keeper Srdjan Djekanovic inside the left post. His two-goal performance earned him Player of the Week honors.
Prior to joining Columbus in mid-April, Barros Schelotto spent 11 years at Argentine giants Boca Juniors, establishing himself as one of the most talented midfielders in all of South America. In 210 games for the storied club, he scored 61 times and helped the team to 16 trophies. His reputation as a midfield maestro made him a crowd favorite, and helped him earn eight caps with the Argentine national team.
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and the U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it recently opened its 12th season overall and ninth in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium.
2007 MLS Player of the Month Awards
April: Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards)
May: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
June: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
July: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
