NEW YORK — Columbus Crew super-sub Emilio Renteria won his first-ever Player of the Week award as voted on Monday by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The Venezuelan international forward scored his first two MLS goals off the bench as the Eastern Conference leaders won two road games in a span of three days.
Renteria and the undefeated Crew now prepare to face the other undefeated team in MLS, the Los Angeles Galaxy, this Saturday in the early marquee match-up of the MLS season.
Columbus took over first-place in the East after a 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls last Thursday. In the team’s first-ever visit to Red Bull Arena, the 25-year-old Renteria came on in the 68th minute and scored his team’s last goal on a breakaway with seven minutes remaining to ice the result.
Watch: Renteria buries New York with Crew's third
In Kansas City on Sunday, Renteria entered the match again in the second half and scored the game-winner five minutes after coming on the field. His header off a corner kick gave the Crew a 1-0 road victory and a five-point lead in the East.
Watch: Renteria heads past Nielsen
Renteria, who has also played in the Spanish second division, signed with the Crew on August 19, 2009, and made just five league appearances in his first MLS season. He is yet to start a match in 2010.
The honor was the first Player of the Week award by a Crew player in 2010 and the sixth by an international player.
2010 Players of the Week
Week 1: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
Week 2: Kenny Mansally (NE Revolution)
Week 3: Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia)
Week 4: Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
Week 5: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)
Week 6: Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy)
Week 7: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week 8: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
Week 9: Emilio Renteria (Columbus Crew)
