Real Salt Lake forward Pablo Campos was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 24 of the 2009 season. Making his first two starts for Real Salt Lake last week, the midseason acquisition from the San Jose Earthquakes scored the game-winning goal in both matches keeping Real Salt Lake in contention for a playoff wild card spot. Campos bested Galaxy midfielder David Beckham and teammate Robbie Findley, as they tied for the next most votes from media members.
Last Wednesday, Chivas USA traveled to Rio Tinto Stadium occupying fourth place in the Western Conference, six points and two places ahead of Real Salt Lake. Looking to rebound from a 3-1 loss to the New England Revolution the week prior, head coach Jason Kreis made three changes to his Real Salt Lake starting lineup. Brazilian Pablo Campos made the start alongside Argentine teammate Fabian Espindola at forward.
Chivas USA, boasting one of the stingiest defenses in the League was proving hard to beat. Real Salt Lake created several scoring chances in the first half, and were able to capitalize in the 43rd minute. Real Salt Lake's South American forwards combined to break the deadlock with what would prove to be the game-winning goal.
Finding space behind the Chivas USA backline, Espindola brought down a Kyle Beckerman pass, carried it up the field and sent a left-footed cross into the middle of the penalty area. Campos snuck in between two Chivas USA central defenders and rose to head the ball past a helpless Zach Thornton in goal. Espindola added a goal of his own in the 75th minute before Campos' second half replacement, Robbie Findley, added goals in the 85th and 90th minutes to round out an impressive 4-0 win over their Western Conference foes.
Playing their second game in four days, Real Salt Lake made five changes to the starting lineup when they traveled to CommunityAmerica ballpark to take on the Kansas City Wizards. Campos was one of the six players to keep their place in the starting 11, and he showed quickly why he earned the nod.
In the 18th minute, Real Salt Lake defender Robbie Russell broke down the right side and fed the ball inside to midfielder Andy Williams. Russell continued his run into the penalty area for the return pass, but Williams instead chose to play a first-time pass into Campos. Campos met Williams' low pass and coolly redirected the ball with his first touch into the bottom right corner of Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman's goal. The goal was unanswered and held up as Real Salt Lake recorded their second win of the week.
This is the first MLS Player of the Week Award for the forward from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Following a standout collegiate career at Fresno Pacific University, where he was named an All-American, Campos signed a professional contract with Swedish Allsvenskan team GAIS. In the 2009 offseason, Campos signed for the San Jose Earthquakes and scored two goals in 14 appearances before joining Real Salt Lake on July 15. Campos has four goals and three assists in his first MLS season. Campos and Real Salt Lake are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 12 when they host the Chicago Fire.
The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com.
2009 MLS Player of the Week Winners
WEEK 1: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)
WEEK 2: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
WEEK 3: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)
WEEK 4: Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles Galaxy)
WEEK 5: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
WEEK 6: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
WEEK 7: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
WEEK 8: Macoumba Kandji (New York Red Bulls)
WEEK 9: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
WEEK 10: Amado Guevara (Toronto FC)
WEEK 11: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)
WEEK 12: Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
WEEK 13: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
WEEK 14: Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids)
WEEK 15: Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders FC)
WEEK 16: Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)
WEEK 17: Chad Barrett (Toronto FC)
WEEK 18: Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)
WEEK 19: Yura Movsisyan (Real Salt Lake)
WEEK 20: Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)
WEEK 21: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)
WEEK 22: Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
WEEK 23: Kheli Dube (New England Revolution)
WEEK 24: Pablo Campos (Real Salt Lake)
ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. MLS features many stars from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. MLS kicked off its 14th season on March 19, and will feature 15 teams each playing 30 regular season matches. They include Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC and, in its inaugural season, Seattle Sounders FC. The Philadelphia Union will debut in 2010, while expansion teams in Vancouver and Portland will debut in 2011. For more information about MLS, log on to the League's official website at
www.MLSnet.com
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