Columbus Crew forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 13 of the 2009 season. The reigning Volkswagen MLS MVP netted two goals in the Crew's 2-1 come-from-behind win over Chivas USA, which extended the Crew's unbeaten streak to nine games.
In his third MLS season, Schelotto has shifted from set-up man (19 assists in 2008) to goal scorer. His two goals in Sunday's win gave him a league-leading 10 goals on the season and a two-goal lead in the Budweiser Golden Boot race; Conor Casey sits second with eight while six others are tied with six goals apiece.
With the Crew trailing at halftime the 36-year-old Argentine rallied the Crew in the 61st minute. Columbus Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum sent a booming goal kick into the Chivas USA half. The ball sailed over two players who challenged in the midfield and headed for Schelotto. He shielded the ball from Chivas USA defender Carey Talley, gained possession and fired a low driving shot into the bottom left corner past Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton.
Schelotto broke the deadlock in the 87th minute when Crew defender Gino Padula sent a lofted cross that sailed just over the defense and into the penalty area. Schelotto settled the ball and calmly slotted another low shot into the far corner under a stretched out Thornton to give the Crew three points and the victory at home. The Crew are undefeated in their last nine games and have not lost at home in 17 matches. The victory moves the Crew (4-2-7, 19 points) into a three-way tie for third place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind D.C. United and two points behind the Chicago Fire.
This is Schelotto's seventh-career MLS Player of the Week Award and his first of the 2009 season. El Mellizo "the twin" was the recipient of the Volkswagen MLS MVP award in 2008, his first full season in MLS, in which he notched seven goals and 19 assists. The native of La Plata, Argentina has played professionally since 1991 including an 11-year stint with famed Argentine club Boca Juniors. Since signing with the Columbus Crew as the team's first Designated Player, Schelotto has been named Volkswagen MLS MVP, SI Latino's Sportsman of the Year and was named the MLS Cup Volkswagen MVP after helping the Crew defeat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in MLS Cup 2008. Schelotto also has 10 career appearances with the Argentina national team.
The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season 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 information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com.
2009 MLS Player of the Week Winners
WEEK 1
: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)
WEEK 2
: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
WEEK 3
: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)
WEEK 4
: Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles Galaxy)
WEEK 5
: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
WEEK 6
: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
WEEK 7
: Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)
WEEK 8
: Macoumba Kandji (New York Red Bulls)
WEEK 9
: Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)
WEEK 10
: Amado Guevara (Toronto FC)
WEEK 11
: Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids)
WEEK 12
: Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)
WEEK 13
: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
