Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who finished with the top mark in the league in both shutouts and goals against average, has been named a finalist for both Goalkeeper of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year, Major League Soccer announced today.
The finalists for MLS awards earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media. The Goalkeeper of the Year award will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Comeback Player of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Thornton finished the regular season with 12 shutouts and a goals against average of 0.87, both good for first in MLS. The 0.87 mark set a new Chivas USA record, topping Brad Guzan's 0.93 average from 2007, and was the second best in league history. The Edgewood, Md. native led the Red-and-White to a 7-1-1 start, and finished with a record of 12-9-6 (W-L-T) in 27 starts, after playing in a total of just nine games in 2007 and 2008.
One of the most decorated goalkeepers in MLS history, Thornton won Goalkeeper of the Year in 1998, the same season he helped the Chicago Fire to the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. He is a six-time MLS All-Star (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2009), and won two additional U.S. Open Cups with Chicago in 2000 and 2003, as well as the Supporters Shield with the Fire in 2003.
Chivas USA plays an 'away' match at the LA Galaxy in the second leg of the Playoff Super Clásico series this Sunday, Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center, with the match being broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
