D.C. United midfielder Freddy Adu today was selected as the Honda MLS Player of the Week for Week 28 which ended on Sunday, Oct. 9. In two starts on the week, the 16-year old scored once and added an assist, helping United secure the # 2 seed in the Eastern Conference ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs. This is Adu's second Player of the Week honor of the season (Week 6).
On Wednesday night, Adu scored a highlight-reel goal that became the game-winner as United defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Five minutes into the second half, Adu chest-trapped a ball near midfield and before it hit the ground, freed himself from oncoming defender Brian Dunseth by quickly flicking the ball over his head. Adu spun around the player and headed towards goal, passing defender Nelson Akwari at the top of the penalty area before shooting low to the ride side of the net past goalkeeper D.J. Countess.
Only two minutes later, Adu helped put the game away by beginning the play that led to the third goal. Adu took the ball from his half and advance it past midfield, where he sent a pass down the right wing to Jamil Walker. Walker sent a first-time pass across the field into the box where Christian Gomez cleanly put if past Countess.
With his start on Saturday - his 16th of the season - Adu has now played more minutes than he did in his rookie season of 2004. Adu was denied twice by MetroStars goalkeeper Tony Meola as his team fell 2-1.
San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Dwayne De Rosario and MetroStars forward Youri Djorkaeff were runners up as eight players received first place votes for the weekly award. The Honda Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected every week throughout the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association (PSRA).
2005 PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNERS
Week 1: Edson Buddle (Columbus Crew)
Week 2: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 3: Jon Busch (Columbus Crew)
Week 4: Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution)
Week 5: Amado Guevara (MetroStars)
Week 6: Freddy Adu (D.C. United)
Week 7: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 8: Ronnie O'Brien (FC Dallas)
Week 9: Carlos Ruiz (FC Dallas)
Week 10: Nate Jaqua (Chicago Fire)
Week 11: Zach Wells (MetroStars)
Week 12: Jeff Cunningham (Colorado Rapids)
Week 13: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
Week 14: Joe Cannon (Colorado Rapids)
Week 15: Matt Taylor (Chivas USA)
Week 16: Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
Week 17: Mark Chung (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 18: no winner (All-Star break)
Week 19: Youri Djorkaeff (MetroStars)
Week 20: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 21: Amado Guevara (MetroStars)
Week 22: Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
Week 23: Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire)
Week 24: Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
Week 25: Youri Djorkaeff (MetroStars)
Week 26: Dwayne De Rosario (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 27: Herculez Gomez (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 28: Freddy Adu (D.C. United)
