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Goal.com's MLS Player Of Week 21: Colorado's Conor Casey
Conor Casey is Goal.com's MLS player of the week thanks to his hat-trick on the weekend.
Aug 10, 2009 5:57:46 PM
The Colorado Rapids smashed four goals past the visiting Chivas USA on the weekend with burly striker Conor Casey grabbing a hat-trick's worth. For that display, he is Goal.com's Major League Soccer player of the week for matchday 21.
“Thrice as nice for the big man from Colorado this week,” said associate editor Allen Ramsey. “Three times Casey found the net for the Rapids in the win over Chivas USA. The win was a big one for the club: Coupled with Seattle's loss, the Rapids now sits just one point back of the second placed L.A. Galaxy.”
Known for his size and physical ability, Casey showed off a more delicate side against Chivas. The first goal was a tender lob that had the courtesy of kissing the crossbeam on the way down before effectively ending the game in the fourth minute. His third was a cheeky penalty chip late in the first half that hung in the air as Lance Parker dove embarrassingly to the ground.
“A first-half hat-trick pretty much speaks for itself. Casey now leads the league with 11 goals and helped Colorado move into third place,” said women's soccer editor Kathryn Knapp.
Hot on the heels of Casey in the voting was strike partner Omar Cummings. The speed demon had a hand in all four of Colorado's goals as a patchwork Chivas USA backline allowed him to rip gaping holes in it. Cummings played a relatively straightforward ball to Pablo Mastroeni as the Colorado captain smashed home from distance for the opener. For the second, the Jamaican reversed roles with Casey: Cummings headed the ball on to the American to finish. The third fully exposed Cummings' influence as he carried the ball through the Chivas backline like it wasn't there and centered for Casey to easily tap in. Finally, it was Cummings who so severely outpaced national teammate Shavar Thomas that the usually reliable back yanked on the striker's arm leading to a penalty kick and a straight red for Thomas.
“Conor Casey will get all the plaudits for a well taken hat-trick, but that 4-0 demolition of Chivas USA was down to the explosive pace of Omar Cummings,” said associate editor Zac Lee Rigg. “With Cummings sliding past ball-watching defenders, massive gaps opened up that Pablo Mastroeni and Casey exploited. His finishing was off on the day (Lance Parker in the Chivas goal cranked his head backwards more than once to watch a Cummings drive ding off the post), but the damage was done in other ways.”
Landon Donovan also received votes for his sumptuous one-time volley and lively play that helped the Galaxy earn three very respectable road points against the New England Revolution.
Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
“Thrice as nice for the big man from Colorado this week,” said associate editor Allen Ramsey. “Three times Casey found the net for the Rapids in the win over Chivas USA. The win was a big one for the club: Coupled with Seattle's loss, the Rapids now sits just one point back of the second placed L.A. Galaxy.”
Known for his size and physical ability, Casey showed off a more delicate side against Chivas. The first goal was a tender lob that had the courtesy of kissing the crossbeam on the way down before effectively ending the game in the fourth minute. His third was a cheeky penalty chip late in the first half that hung in the air as Lance Parker dove embarrassingly to the ground.
“A first-half hat-trick pretty much speaks for itself. Casey now leads the league with 11 goals and helped Colorado move into third place,” said women's soccer editor Kathryn Knapp.
Hot on the heels of Casey in the voting was strike partner Omar Cummings. The speed demon had a hand in all four of Colorado's goals as a patchwork Chivas USA backline allowed him to rip gaping holes in it. Cummings played a relatively straightforward ball to Pablo Mastroeni as the Colorado captain smashed home from distance for the opener. For the second, the Jamaican reversed roles with Casey: Cummings headed the ball on to the American to finish. The third fully exposed Cummings' influence as he carried the ball through the Chivas backline like it wasn't there and centered for Casey to easily tap in. Finally, it was Cummings who so severely outpaced national teammate Shavar Thomas that the usually reliable back yanked on the striker's arm leading to a penalty kick and a straight red for Thomas.
“Conor Casey will get all the plaudits for a well taken hat-trick, but that 4-0 demolition of Chivas USA was down to the explosive pace of Omar Cummings,” said associate editor Zac Lee Rigg. “With Cummings sliding past ball-watching defenders, massive gaps opened up that Pablo Mastroeni and Casey exploited. His finishing was off on the day (Lance Parker in the Chivas goal cranked his head backwards more than once to watch a Cummings drive ding off the post), but the damage was done in other ways.”
Landon Donovan also received votes for his sumptuous one-time volley and lively play that helped the Galaxy earn three very respectable road points against the New England Revolution.
Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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