Kansas City Wizards striker Claudio Lopez was named MLS Player of the Week Monday for a masterful performance Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes. Lopez, Kansas City's first-year Designated Player, factored in all three Wizards goals during a vital 3-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. The award marks his first career MLS Player of the Week honor. After the riveting last-second victory, Kansas City controls its playoff fate heading into the regular-season finale this Saturday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. CT on the road against the New England Revolution.
"It means a lot to win MLS Player of the Week because that means our team won," Lopez said. "It was a very exciting game, and we needed to win to help make the playoffs. Our fans were great and very loud, and after the final goal we all celebrated together."
Lopez started his own scoring play in the 18th minute Saturday by sending a pass wide left for Abe Thompson before cutting toward the back post. Thompson picked Lopez out with a perfectly weighted cross that Lopez flicked over goalkeeper Joe Cannon with an outstretched left foot to put Kansas City ahead 1-0. It was Lopez's 5th goal of the MLS regular season. He also scored a goal in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play.
After San Jose scored in the 20th minute, Kansas City went back on top in the 27th minute through another sequence of sublime passing. After a long bit of possession in the San Jose end, midfielder Jack Jewsbury played a pass ahead ten yards to Lopez, who was posted up with his back to goal at the top of the 18-yard area. Lopez deftly flicked a right-footed back-heel to Davy Arnaud streaking through a seem in the defense. Arnaud took a touch forward then tucked a hard-hit ball inside the near post from 12 yards out to put Kansas City ahead 2-1.
Kansas City then scored in the 3rd minute of second-half stoppage time to earn all three points and keep control of their playoff destiny. After an exchange on the right flank led to a Wizards corner kick, Lopez stood over the ball and bent in a low, left-footed cross to the middle of the penalty area. Newly acquired attacker Herculez Gomez ran onto the cross and put a left-footed shot into the back of the net for his first goal in a Wizards uniform and a dramatic last-second victory. Lopez now has six assists on the year, good for second on the team.
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/.
2008 Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Terry Cooke (Colorado Rapids)
Week 2: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 3: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 4: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 5: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 6: David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 7: Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Week 8: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 9: Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)
Week 10: Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
Week 11: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Week 12: Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 13: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 14: Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)
Week 15: Adam Cristman (New England Revolution)
Week 16: John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
Week 17: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 18: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Week 19: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Week 20: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
Week 21: Ronnie O'Brien (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 22: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 23: Fabian Espindola (Real Salt Lake)
Week 24: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 25: Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)
Week 26: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 27: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)
Week 28: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Week 29: Brian McBride (Chicago Fire)
Week 30: Claudio Lopez (Kansas City Wizards)
