Alecko Eskandarian has been named the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 4 of the 2006 season after his two-goal game against the New York Red Bulls on April 22. Eskandarian, who sat out most of last season with severe post-concussion syndrome, was the key figure in his side's authoritative 4-1 victory over their conference rivals.
Eskandarian capitalized on a Red Bull mistake in the 41st minute to give his team a 1-0 lead. Picking up a weak defensive clearance off a cross, he drove the ball past Red Bulls goalkeeper Tony Meola.
In the 59th minute he followed up with the eventual game winner, finishing off a nice set of passes from teammates Brian Carroll and Ben Olsen. Eskandarian's second strike of the game gave him a total of three goals this season, all three coming against rival New York.
This is Eskandarian's third Player of the Week award in his career, his first since Week 24 of the 2004 season. Eskandarian was limited to only 12 appearances last season due to the lingering effects of his concussion.
The 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).
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)
