The rookie can play.
Columbus Crew winger Bernardo Anor earned his first MLS start last Saturday and made the most of it, earning Player of the Week honors in the process. He assisted on his team’s first goal and scored the second as the Crew defeated the Dynamo, 2-0, to capture their first-ever victory at Houston’s Robertson Stadium.
The 23-year-old, who had only played a total of 26 MLS minutes before starting on Saturday, showed off his vision with a spectacular through ball to striker Andrés Mendoza for the opening goal just minutes before halftime.
The former Venezuelan youth international then put the game out of reach with 13 minutes remaining for his first MLS goal. He penetrated down the left side of the Dynamo penalty area and latched onto a cross which he failed to convert on the first opportunity. But he had no problems burying the rebound with a classy finish.
Anor also drew the foul that led to the ejection of Houston’s Lovel Palmer with a dribbling move in the 52nd minute.
The Crew made Anor the 48th overall pick in the 2011 SuperDraft and manager Robert Warzycha gave the University of South Florida product his MLS debut on March 26 before a left ankle sprain kept him off the practice fields in recent weeks.
WATCH: FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS - HOU 0, CLB 2
2011 PLAYER OF THE WEEK WINNERS
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)
