Monday, July 28, 2008

FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper chosen MLS Player of the Week

By Pegasus News wire

FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 18 of the 2008 season. Cooper scored two goals and tallied an assist in Dallas' 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday. This is Cooper's first Player of the Week award this season, and the second of his career (Week 16, 2006).

Celia Palmer

That's all nice and good, but is he stayin' or goin'? That's what we want to know.

The victory improved FCD’s record to 5-6-7 (22 points). They now sit fourth in the Western Conference, but only two points separate Dallas from the Western leaders, Real Salt Lake.

FC Dallas scorched the Galaxy backline in the first 20 minutes of the half. Cooper got on the scoreboard in the 15th minute when he dribbled past Galaxy defender Ante Jazic and unloaded a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box that snuck by Steve Cronin into the right lower corner of the goal.

Two minutes later, Cooper continued to punish the Galaxy defense, this time combining with teammate Dominic Oduro for a give-and-go combination that led to Cooper's second tally of the night. Cooper started the sequence by dispossessing Galaxy defender Eduardo Dominguez and then laying the ball off to Oduro. Oduro raced into the box and passed it back across for Cooper who slotted the shot past Cronin to put Dallas up 2-0.

Cooper and his teammates continued the early domination and added a third goal in 36th minute. Battling for possession in midfield, Cooper sent a back-heel pass to Arturo Alvarez who provided a precise through ball down the right flank for Oduro. The Ghanian international dribbled past Cronin and touched the ball into the open goal giving FC Dallas a 3-0 first-half lead.

FC Dallas (5-6-7) returns to action on August 3 when they travel to BMO Field to play Toronto FC at 3 p.m. CT (KFWD-52).

The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at www.soccerreporters.com.

Source: FC Dallas Communications

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