Major League Soccer announced Saturday evening the RadioShack MLS Best XI, a list which included four members of D.C. United - the most of any team in the League. Bobby Boswell, Christian Gomez, Jaime Moreno and Troy Perkins all earned the honor of being named the best in the League after helping United to the best regular season record (15-7-10), winning the 2006 Supporters' Shield. The club had previously put four players on the year-end MLS Best XI in 1997 when Jeff Agoos, Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno and Eddie Pope were all honored.
"We want to congratulate Bobby, Christian, Jaime and Troy for having a terrific season," said United Technical Director Dave Kasper. "They all played special roles in helping us win the 2006 Supporters' Shield and we look forward to their future contributions to our club."
Bobby Boswell - who earlier this month earned the League's Defender of the Year award - was the cog in United's stingy defense, as the 22-year old played every minute of the 30 games he saw time. He led a defense that allowed only 38 goals, second fewest in the League, and also contributed a goal and an assist.
Named the League's MVP yesterday, Gomez was named to the MLS Best XI for the second straight year. The 32-year old finished tied second in the League in both goals (14) and assists (11) and tied for the League lead with four game-winning assists. The Argentine has 29 goals and 20 assists in 70 career games as a member of the Black-and-Red.
Named to the MLS Best XI for the third straight year, Jaime Moreno earns his fifth such honor ('97, '99. '04, '05 & '06). This year, Moreno was again one of the most important pieces of United's potent offense, notching 11 goals and 10 assists, while playing in every game (31 starts) and logging 2,700 minutes on the pitch. The 32-year old is second all-time in MLS with 105 goals scored, trailing only Jason Kreis of Real Salt Lake.
Troy Perkins earns MLS Best XI honors for the first time in his career, after also taking home Goalkeeper of the Year honors this season. He was among League leaders in goals-against average (1.13), shutouts (8) and saves (100), while leading MLS in wins (15). The 25-year old is the first-ever United goalkeeper to earn Best XI honors.
The MLS Best XI is determined by the votes of players, general managers, coaches and media members.
