NEW YORK — Perhaps it's just a coincidence that Fredy Montero began his hot streak just as Freddie Ljungberg exited Seattle.
Regardless, the Colombian forward continued on his torrid pace with two goals against his ex-teammate and the Chicago Fire, earning him MLS Player of the Week honors as voted by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 22.
Since Ljungberg made his last appearance for the club on July 4 against Los Angeles, Montero has captured the Player of the Month award for July and has led his team to an unbeaten 5-0-2 record in league play. He has five goals and three assists in that stretch.
Montero scored both of the Sounders’ goals on Saturday night as they rallied from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the former Sounders DP and the visiting Fire 2-1. His first goal in the 36th minute was an immediate reply to the Fire’s opening PK goal, and he capped his match with a second-half stoppage-time winner.
"It was a very big goal,” Montero said of the game-winning tally. “We have been dreaming about this situation and a goal so late in the game, giving us three points, got us closer to the playoffs."
The 23-year-old, who now has two career Player of the Week honors to his credit, now has 10 goals and nine assists on the season and was the only Seattle player to register a shot on goal in the match against Chicago.
"Well, he got two goals,” Seattle manager Sigi Schmid said. "A lot of times, people just measure your game by goals. Certainly his motivation [Saturday night] was good and obviously his finishing was good. I was very pleased with that."
2010 MLS Player of the Week Winners
Week 1: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
Week 2: Kenny Mansally (New England Revolution)
Week 3: Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
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)
Week 10: Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)
Week 11: Brek Shea (FC Dallas)
Week 12: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
Week 13: Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls)
Week 14: Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake)
Week 15: Justin Braun (Chivas USA)
Week 16: Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)
Week 17: Steve Zakuani (Seattle Sounders)
Week 18: Juan Pablo Ángel (New York Red Bulls)
Week 19: Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)
Week 20: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)
Week 21: Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)
Week 22: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)
