Columbus Crew midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 24 of the 2008 season. Schelotto had a goal and two assists as Columbus defeated the New England Revolution 4-0. The victory improved the Crew's record to 13-6-4 (43 points) and helped them gain a five-point lead atop the Eastern Conference. The Columbus Crew have won four games in a row, and five of six since the All-Star break.
After a 2-1 comeback victory over FC Dallas last weekend, the Crew returned home looking for revenge against the second place team in the Eastern Conference. New England had defeated Columbus 1-0 at Columbus Crew Stadium earlier this season, but the tables were turned this past weekend on the defending Eastern Conference champions as the Crew was eager to validate its claim as the League's top team.
Schelotto lined up a free kick attempt in the 13th minute and his bending shot bounced off the crossbar. Schelotto's fortunes improved in the 39th minute when he scored his first goal from the run of play this season. The veteran midfielder pounced on a deflected cross from Robbie Rogers and drilled it past an outstretched Matt Reis to give the Crew a 1-0 edge.
Seven minutes later, Schelotto again conjured up his set-piece magic, this time whipping a ball into the box for rookie defender Andy Iro. The Liverpool native out jumped his mark and headed the cross into the back of the net for his first career goal. The Schelotto-led offense had 16 total shots and eight shots on goal in the first 45 minutes of play.
In the 67th minute, Schelotto lofted a ball behind the New England backline to forward Jason Garey. Garey settled the pass with his chest and struck it home for Columbus' third goal of the match. The Crew iced their cake in the 90th minute when Garey scored his second goal of the game off a through ball from former Revs midfielder Pat Noonan.
Schelotto has registered eight assists in his last four games and currently leads the League with 18 assists overall. His current assist mark is the highest total in a single season since Steve Ralston recorded 19 in 2002. (The all-time record for assists in a single season is Carlos Valderrama's mark of 26 in 2000.) Schelotto has played and started in all 23 games for Columbus this year.
This is Schelotto's fourth Player of the Week award this season and the sixth of his career. Despite this being just his second season in MLS, only five players have won the Player of the Week award more times. Schelotto also becomes the fifth player to win Player of the Week four times in one season. Cobi Jones (1998), Jason Kreis (six times in 1999), Alex Pineda Chacon (2001) and Jeff Cunningham (2006) are the others.
Columbus (13-6-4) returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 13 when they travel to BMO Field to play Toronto FC at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on ONN, DK, and MLSLIVE.tv
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/.
2008 Player of the Week Winners
Week 1:
Terry Cooke (Colorado Rapids)
Week 2:
David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 3:
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 4:
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 5:
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 6:
David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 7:
Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Week 8:
Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 9:
Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Chicago Fire)
Week 10:
Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
Week 11:
Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Week 12:
Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 13:
Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
Week 14:
Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)
Week 15:
Adam Cristman (New England Revolution)
Week 16:
John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
Week 17:
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 18:
Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Week 19:
Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas)
Week 20:
Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
Week 21:
Ronnie O'Brien (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 22:
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
Week 23:
Fabian Espindola (Real Salt Lake)
Week 24:
Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew)
