D.C. United forward Luciano Emilio was voted MLS Player of the Month for June after scoring seven goals and adding one assist in four matches. He helped lead United to a 4-0-0 record in June, and has extended his goal scoring streak to six consecutive League games. During the stretch United out-scored their opponents 13-4. Emilio notched two game-winning goals and two multi-goal games, including a hat trick against the New York Red Bulls on June 14.
After a 2-7 start, United (7-7-1) is undefeated in their last six games with a 5-0-1 record. United has catapulted up the League standings and now hold the third best record in the League. Their undefeated streak has coincided with a torrid scoring run for Emilio; United has not lost a game when Emilio scores.
Emilio began the month of June with a dramatic game-winning goal on the road versus the Chicago Fire. Playing a man down after Marcelo Gallardo and defender Bryan Namoff had been sent off, Emilio struck in the second minute of stoppage time shocking the home crowd and sending United home with the victory.
The 30-year old Brazilian scored his first MLS hat trick as D.C. United prevailed 4-1 on June 14. Emilio demonstrated his ruthless efficiency in front of the net in the rout, and demonstrated why he was last season's MLS Most Valuable Player.
Emilio continued his streak scoring in the 88th minute of United's 3-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on June 22. The late goal iced the game and erased San Jose's comeback attempt. He closed the month last Sunday in impressive fashion versus the Western Conference leading Los Angeles Galaxy. After the Galaxy leveled the score 1-1, Emilio scored what would prove to be the game winner rising up to head a Marc Burch cross into the back of the net. He provided an assist on a Gallardo goal in the 60th minute, and scored again in the 68th sealing the victory over the Galaxy.
Emilio joined United in 2007 and took the League by storm becoming the first player to score 20 goals in a season since Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz scored 24 goals in 2002. He won the Budweiser Golden Boot award, was named the League's Newcomer of the Year and received the highest honor being named the Most Valuable Player and a member of the MLS Best XI. Emilio's 10 goals are tied for second in the Budweiser Golden Boot race with Galaxy forward Edson Buddle and only one behind Landon Donovan. This is Emilio's second Player of the Month award. He received the honor in September of 2007. Emilio and the Galaxy play their next League game on July 22 versus the Houston Dynamo in a match previously scheduled for June 4, but that was postponed due to inclement weather.
The Major League Soccer Player of the Month is selected following the last regular season game of each month by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership guidelines can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
2008 MLS Player of the Month Awards
April: Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy
May: Cuauhtémoc Blanco - Chicago Fire
June: Luciano Emilio - D.C. United
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and features many stars from the U.S. and around the world. Now in its 13th season, the 14 teams in MLS are: the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC. For more information about MLS, log on to the League's official Web site at www.MLSnet.com.
