FRISCO - FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja was selected as Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for his two-goal performance against D.C. United in Week 15. Toja led FC Dallas on a spectacular comeback as he scored two late goals that helped earn FC Dallas (9-6-3, 30 pts) a 3-3 tie on the road versus D.C. United on Sat., July 14. The result marked only the third time in MLS history that a team came back to earn at least a tie after being down by three goals or more.
Watch Toja's two goals versus DC >
Toja was at the forefront of the momentum swing on Sat., his energy and athleticism posing problems for the United defense. D.C. United put FC Dallas in a 3-0 hole just two minutes into the second half, but an immediate response from Carlos Ruiz ignited the Dallas side. In the 71st minute, the 22-year-old Colombian finally got on the board. A lofted through-ball from Ruiz landed at Toja's feet and the wild-maned forward outmuscled midfielder Brian Carroll to fire past Troy Perkins at the near post. Ten minutes later Toja put Dallas level, rising above Perkins to head home the ball into an empty net for the equalizer.
Toja earned his Player of the Week honor almost exactly one-year to the date of the last time an FC Dallas player won the award. On July 15, 2006, Kenny Cooper scored the game-winning goal and added an assist to lift FC Dallas to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Fire, for which he was recognized as the Player of the Week (16).
In his first season in MLS, Toja leads the team with six goals in 18 matches. Strong and skillful on the ball, Toja has pestered opposing defenses and constantly tests keeper with his powerful shots and dangerous headers. His good form this season was rewarded with a selection to the MLS All-Star First XI. Toja has also become a fan-favorite for his unique look inspired by famous American rock and heavy metal bands.
Watch a short highlight video of Toja >
With the tie, FC Dallas denied D.C. United a place atop the Eastern Conference leaderboard, while placing a firm hold on its second place spot behind Houston in the Western Conference. FC Dallas return to action July 24 when they meet CD Guadalajara at Pizza Hut Park in the inaugural SuperLiga tournament (8 pm CT).
The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA).
2007 Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake)
Week 2: Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 3: Maykel Galindo (Chivas USA)
Week 4: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 5: Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo)
Week 6: Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
Week 7: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
Week 8: Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 9: Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 10: Ben Olsen (D.C. United)
Week 11: Luciano Emilio (D.C. United)
Week 12: Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo)
Week 13: Nicholas Addlery (D.C. United)
Week 14: Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo)
Week 15: Juan Toja (FC Dallas)
