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Goal.com's MLS Player Of Week 5: KC Wizards' Josh Wolff
Josh Wolff is Goal.com's MLS Player of the Week after scoring two goals to equalize for the Kansas City Wizards against the Chicago Fire.
Apr 20, 2009 9:45:07 PM
Josh Wolff has nabbed Goal.com's Major League Soccer Player of the Week award for week five of the 2009 season. A two goal haul against the Chicago Fire gave his Kansas City Wizards a share of the spoils in a match that looked well beyond the traveling KC squad.
“Within an eleven-minute span, Wolff erased the lead and forced a 2-2 draw,” said Kathryn L. Knapp, who is Goal.com's women's soccer editor. “Not only did Wolff score from the same spot on both occasions, but he scored his first two-goal game since 2005.”
Down by two Brian McBride goals, Wolff popped up to slam home two poacher's goals from crosses into the area. But the goals weren't all he added to the hard-fought draw.
“What was most impressive about Wolff was his continued fight down the stretch as he was chasing after balls, and fighting for position in front of the goal even after it appeared that the game was a lost cause,” explained Salt Lake correspondent Randy Davis.
With a similar two-goal display, FC Dallas' Kenny Cooper lost out to Wolff by a single vote. He scored twice on Toronto FC to give Dallas its first win of the season.
“Two goals--one a PK, one a drilled long-range effort--led the way as Dallas got their first win of the year,” said site developer Greg Lalas. “After two straight draws, FCD looks like they are getting closer and closer to finding a groove and things finally fell their way at home to Toronto.”
It was the more tame of the two goals, the penalty shot, that impressed Bay Area correspondent Jennifer Dawson.
“When Toronto pegged back by scoring twice, Cooper stepped up to the spot and converted a penalty with just minutes remaining,” said Dawson. “He must have felt the immense pressure of having the potential game winner at his feet, but he didn't buckle and instead calmly slotted it home.”
Besides Kyle McCarthy's bid for Mac Kandji, the rest of the votes were split among goalkeepers. Associate editor Allen Ramsey pointed out that Wolff's goals would have meant nothing if it weren't for the immense second half display of Kevin Hartman for the 'Zards.
“The veteran 'keeper made some huge saves against Chicago,” said Ramsey. “In the end, without Hartman's great showing in goal Wolff's late brace wouldn't have mattered at all. The save he made of Chris Rolfe's attempt at a winner in at the death of the match was amazing.”
However, with Hartman directly responsible for the first of Chicago's goals, the other votes went to Houston Dynamo's veteran 'keeper Pat Onstad and New England Revolution's fresh-faced goalie Brad Knighton.
With a penalty save late in the game to ensure Houston's first win of the season, Onstad did as much as any striker to ensure points.
“Onstad practically willed the Houston Dynamo to their first win,” explained chief editor Andrea Canales. “It's not often that goalkeepers can so completely turn the course of the match, but in this case, he definitely did.”
Knighton pulled off a series of impressive saves as he kept Matt Reis on the bench for the game against D.C. United. A late Ben Olsen equalizer didn't ruin the display for D.C. Correspondent Steven Streff.
“Without the performance of Knighton -- in just his third MLS start of his career -- New England would have not been in a position to have taken a point from the match,” said Streff. “United took 20 shots, 8 of which were on target. With 7 crucial saves, Knighton was able to keep New England in the game.”
Keep an eye out for each week's winner, to be announced Mondays.
Go to Goal.com's MLS section for all the latest on the U.S. game.
Goal.com
“Within an eleven-minute span, Wolff erased the lead and forced a 2-2 draw,” said Kathryn L. Knapp, who is Goal.com's women's soccer editor. “Not only did Wolff score from the same spot on both occasions, but he scored his first two-goal game since 2005.”
Down by two Brian McBride goals, Wolff popped up to slam home two poacher's goals from crosses into the area. But the goals weren't all he added to the hard-fought draw.
“What was most impressive about Wolff was his continued fight down the stretch as he was chasing after balls, and fighting for position in front of the goal even after it appeared that the game was a lost cause,” explained Salt Lake correspondent Randy Davis.
With a similar two-goal display, FC Dallas' Kenny Cooper lost out to Wolff by a single vote. He scored twice on Toronto FC to give Dallas its first win of the season.
“Two goals--one a PK, one a drilled long-range effort--led the way as Dallas got their first win of the year,” said site developer Greg Lalas. “After two straight draws, FCD looks like they are getting closer and closer to finding a groove and things finally fell their way at home to Toronto.”
It was the more tame of the two goals, the penalty shot, that impressed Bay Area correspondent Jennifer Dawson.
“When Toronto pegged back by scoring twice, Cooper stepped up to the spot and converted a penalty with just minutes remaining,” said Dawson. “He must have felt the immense pressure of having the potential game winner at his feet, but he didn't buckle and instead calmly slotted it home.”
Besides Kyle McCarthy's bid for Mac Kandji, the rest of the votes were split among goalkeepers. Associate editor Allen Ramsey pointed out that Wolff's goals would have meant nothing if it weren't for the immense second half display of Kevin Hartman for the 'Zards.
“The veteran 'keeper made some huge saves against Chicago,” said Ramsey. “In the end, without Hartman's great showing in goal Wolff's late brace wouldn't have mattered at all. The save he made of Chris Rolfe's attempt at a winner in at the death of the match was amazing.”
However, with Hartman directly responsible for the first of Chicago's goals, the other votes went to Houston Dynamo's veteran 'keeper Pat Onstad and New England Revolution's fresh-faced goalie Brad Knighton.
With a penalty save late in the game to ensure Houston's first win of the season, Onstad did as much as any striker to ensure points.
“Onstad practically willed the Houston Dynamo to their first win,” explained chief editor Andrea Canales. “It's not often that goalkeepers can so completely turn the course of the match, but in this case, he definitely did.”
Knighton pulled off a series of impressive saves as he kept Matt Reis on the bench for the game against D.C. United. A late Ben Olsen equalizer didn't ruin the display for D.C. Correspondent Steven Streff.
“Without the performance of Knighton -- in just his third MLS start of his career -- New England would have not been in a position to have taken a point from the match,” said Streff. “United took 20 shots, 8 of which were on target. With 7 crucial saves, Knighton was able to keep New England in the game.”
Keep an eye out for each week's winner, to be announced Mondays.
Go to Goal.com's MLS section for all the latest on the U.S. game.
Goal.com
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