Kansas City defender Jose Burciaga Jr. earned Major League Soccer Player of the Week honors for his performance in the Wizards 2-1 win versus Chivas USA on Saturday, Oct. 7 in which he scored one goal and tallied an assist. The win gave the Wizards sole possession of fourth place in the Eastern Conference two points ahead of New York.
Burciaga put in a complete effort on Saturday, Oct. 7 as he helped the Wizards inch closer to the MLS Cup playoffs. Kansas City opened the scoring in the 50th minute when Burciaga sent in a cross that was finished off by Dave van den Bergh. The assist was Burciaga's eighth of the season. After Chivas USA drew even on a penalty kick in the 71st minute, Burciaga put Kansas City ahead for good in the 74th minute with his eighth goal of the season.
Burciaga is having a career season, as he has notched career highs in assists and goals. His eight assists leads the team and eight goals rank second behind forward Scott Sealy. With three of the teams top players out of action through part of the season for World Cup duty and injury, the Wizards have seen Burciaga step in to provide scoring and a steady presence on the back line.
This is Burciaga's first career Player of the Week award. He's been named Player of the Month once in his career. The Wizards face the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, Oct. 14 in the final regular season game for each time. With a win or tie, the Wizards will advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs, and with a loss the Red Bulls will clinch the final spot in the Eastern Conference.
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).
2006 Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Week 2: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
Week 3: Cornell Glen (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 4: Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United)
Week 5: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 6: Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo)
Week 7: Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake)
Week 8: Jean Philippe Peguero (New York Red Bulls)
Week 9: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
Week 10: Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake)
Week 11: Ante Razov (Chivas USA)
Week 12: Scott Sealy (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 13: Troy Perkins (D.C. United)
Week 14: Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution)
Week 15: Nicholas Hernandez (Colorado Rapids)
Week 16: Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Week 17: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA)
Week 18: Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake)
Week 19: No winner named (All-Star break)
Week 20: Jeff Cunningham (Real Salt Lake)
Week 21: Chris Klein (Real Salt Lake)
Week 22: Edson Buddle (New York Red Bulls)
Week 23: Christian Gomez (D.C. United)
Week 24: Davy Arnaud (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 25: Joe Cannon (Colorado Rapids)
Week 26: Christian Gomez (D.C. United)
Week 27: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
Week 28: Jose Burciaga Jr. (Kansas City Wizards)
