Shocking, I know. The guy who scored four goals last week wins not only Major League Soccer’s Player of the Week honor but also our weekly PST award. Wasn’t very suspenseful, was it?
The choice was actually more difficult than you’d think. Wright-Phillips took a huge lead on the pack with his three-goal performance midweek against Houston, but after Clint Dempsey’s big day Saturday in Seattle, we had something to think about. Given the nature of Wright-Phillips’ right place, right time hat trick, the door was still open for a more well-rounded performance. Had he done nothing on Saturday, Wright-Phillips could have well seen his three goals come up short.
But the Red Bulls striker didn’t stay silent in Columbus. Instead, he scored one of the weekend’s best, most well-executed goals. On a second half cross from Lloyd Sam, Wright-Phillips took one touch before turning on a shot fired against Steve Clark’s left post, giving the Crew number one no chance to prevent New York’s equalizing goal. Scoring his fifth of the season (in his fifth start), Wright-Phillips extended New York’s unbeaten run to three, moving third in the league in scoring in the process.
Where it not for that goal, Dempsey could have very well snagged this week’s honor. Game versus games, his performance against Colorado may have proven more valuable than Wright-Phillips’ hat trick, once we broke it down. With Wright-Phillips’ contribution toward a second result, however, the choice as much easier. There are only so many games per week Dempsey can dominate, particularly when his team only appears once on the schedule.
| PST Award | MLS Award | |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Will Bruin, Houston Dynamo 2g, 1a vs. New England |
Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake 8 saves, PK save at LA |
| Week 2 | Víctor Bernárdez, San Jose Earthquakes 2g, 1a vs. Real Salt Lake |
Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC 2 goals at Seattle |
| Week 3 | Fabian Castillo, FC Dallas 1 goal vs. Chivas USA |
Bernardo Añor, Columbus 2 goals vs. Philadelphia |
| Week 4 | Álvaro Saborío, Real Salt Lake 2 goals vs. Toronto FC |
Graham Zusi, Sporting Kansas City 1 goal, 2 assists at Colorado |
| March Player of the Month | Michael Bradley, Toronto FC 3 games, 0 goals, 0 assists |
Mauro Díaz, FC Dallas 4 games, 2 goals, 0 assists |
| Week 5 | Diego Chara, Portland Timbers 2 goals vs. Seattle |
Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders 3 goals at Portland |
| Week 6 | Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders 2 goals at Dallas |
Clint Dempsey, Seattle Sounders 2 goals at Dallas |
| Week 7 | Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake 4 saves vs. Portland |
Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake 4 saves vs. Portland |
| Week 8 | Bradley Wright-Phillips 4 goals vs. Houston, at Columbus |
Bradley Wright-Phillips 4 goals vs. Houston, at Columbus |