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Montero captures voters’ hearts
Seattle Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero was voted MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters for Week 16.
Montero scored twice in his team’s 3-2 win over arch-rival Portland Timbers in front of a fervent sellout crowd at Portland’s JELD-WEN Field.
Montero’s first goal came on a 57th minute free kick. With the Sounders trailing 1-0, he curled a 25-yard shot over the Timbers wall and into the lower near corner of the goal behind goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
The Sounders fell behind again several minutes later, but Montero rescued them in the 74th minute when he capped a smooth passing sequence by tapping in a goal mouth feed from teammate Mauro Rosales. Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso converted a late penalty kick for the winning goal after a foul by Portland’s Eric Brunner on Lamar Neagle. The win is the first by either team in the MLS chapter of the storied Pacific Northwest rivalry, after the two sides drew 1-1 in the season’s first meeting in Seattle on May 14.
The Player of the Week award is Montero’s first of the 2011 season, and third of his MLS career; he earned the honor on one occasion in March of 2009 and August 2010. He is the second Sounders FC player to be named Player of the Week this season, after defender Jeff Parke took home the award in Week 10.
The Colombian forward’s brace brings his 2011 goal total to five, and Seattle will hope he can continue his form as they aim to extend their unbeaten streak, which now stands at eight games. Montero has been one of the most dynamic forwards in the league since joining the Sounders in 2009, tallying 22 goals and 17 assists in his first two seasons, and earning MLS Newcomer of the Year in 2009.
CSN Vote: Nope, I went with Joel Lindpere of the New York Red Bulls for his one goal and two assists in the Wednesday 5-0 thrashing of Toronto. And, in a bow to sentimentality, I tabbed Dwayne De Rosario as the second for his play against his former teammates on Saturday in D.C. United’s 1-0 win.
And, if I look deep within my heart, I would pick Lindpere and DeRo for my team ahead of Montero.
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