NEW YORK -- Colorado Rapids coach Gary Smith needed to do something when Conor Casey went down with a season-ending injury. So he moved winger Sanna Nyassi up into a forward position.
The move paid off so well that Nyassi struck a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, leading the young Gambian to be named Player of the Week for the Week 19 by the North American Soccer Reporters.
Nyassi is the first Rapids player to take the weekly honors.
Highlights: Colorado 4, New York 1
2011 PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNERS
Week 19: Sanna Nyassi (Colorado Rapids)
Week 18: Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders)
Week 17: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)
Week 16: Joel Lindpere (New York Red Bulls)
Week 15: Mike Magee (LA Galaxy)
Week 14: Bernardo Anor (Columbus Crew)
Week 13: Steven Lenhart (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 12: Jean Alexandre (Real Salt Lake)
Week 11: Justin Mapp (Philadelphia Union)
Week 10: Jeff Parke (Seattle Sounders)
Week 9: Justin Braun (Chivas USA)
Week 8: Joao Plata (Toronto FC)
Week 7: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)
Week 6: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week 5: Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)
Week 4: David Ferreira (FC Dallas)
Week 3: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Week 2: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
Week 1: Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City)
