Gomez captures MVP award
Frisco, TX (Sports Network) - D.C. United midfielder Christian Gomez took home the coveted 2006 Major League Soccer MVP award on Thursday as the announcement was made at Pizza Hut Park, the site of Sunday's MLS Cup.
"I'm very happy to have been nominated," Gomez said through a translator. "This will, in a way, make up for the sadness of the D.C. United fans with us not making it to the championship."
During the regular season, the 2006 MLS All-Star helped lead his team to the best record in the league (15-7-10), behind his 14 goals and 11 providers. Gomez finished second in scoring behind fellow MVP candidate, Jeff Cunningham (16 goals), tying for first with Cunningham in assists.
Gomez was a two-time Player of the Week winner, notching his first after a two-goal opening half performance in United's 2-1 triumph over Chivas USA, while the second came three weeks later with a one goal, two assist performance as D.C. came out the 4-3 victor against the Red Bulls.
The Argentine middy did not lose his offensive threat ability in the playoffs, scoring the only two goals tallied by the D.C. squad in the three postseason fixtures. The MLS sophomore notched the 77th minute game-winner in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, before knocking home a second-leg aggregate-winner in a 1-1 draw against New York, allowing United to move on.
"It's been a great year for Christian, and he continued with his great performance," D.C. forward Jaime Moreno said following the team's advancement to the conference finals. "He never surprises me because I knew what kind of player he was.
"That's just what he does in practice, he trains hard and he plays better every time."
Riding on the wings of Gomez is what the red and black did all season, but despite his efforts, United saw their season come to a close in a 1-0 Eastern Conference Final loss to the New England Revolution.
The 32-year-old is the first Argentinean player to win not only an individual end of the season MLS award, but the MVP, as he becomes the second D.C. player to capture the award.. Marco Etcheverry won it in 1998 for the Nation's Capital.
The other two 2006 nominees were Dwyane De Rosario, the 2006 All-Star MVP, and Jeff Cunningham, the 2006 Golden Boot winner. De Rosario will take to the pitch on Sunday for Houston, as the Dynamo and New England Revolution meet in the MLS Cup Final at 3:30 p.m. ET in Frisco.
Comments
most people who stay away from the rb don't feel any sort of aeosrnpl connection to the team they've never made themselves relevant out here, there is nothing local about them. ive never seen them in west queens or south brooklyn where its at least an hour thirty to even get into jersey. tsk tsk and putting a set of supporters together as hipsters? come on son' most of the cosmos supporters are local working ppl from queens or from the bk out-skirts. soccer as a sport fights to be relevant to the public on a daily-weekly man. im glad the moes' are here getting the attention they do and even if they aren't the next city team. one thing is for sure there will be ONE team IN ny soon. cant wait.
Posted by: Datuk | March 14, 2012 10:27 AM