Sporting Kansas City forward Omar Bravo was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 1 of the 2011 MLS season, the League announced Monday. Bravo tallied two goals in his MLS debut on Saturday, leading Kansas City to a 3-2 road win over Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center.
WATCH: Highlights from season-opening 3-2 victory
The Mexican National Team standout scored his first goal in the third minute of first half stoppage time as he chipped a bouncing service from Kei Kamara over the head of goalkeeper Zach Thornton from the top of the 18-yard-box. Bravo added his second goal in the 74th minute, again set up by Kamara, who headed the final pass. Bravo raced into the penalty area and beat a charging Thornton with a deft touch off the outside of his right foot.
Bravo played the full 90 minutes against Chivas USA, sister club of his former team Chivas Guadalajara, and led all players with six shots and three shots on goal. He becomes the 15th different KC player to be selected for the honor in the team’s 16-year history, and first since Josh Wolff in 2009.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
Sporting Kansas City MLS Player of the Week History:
1996 - Preki (Week 8), Mark Chung (Week 12)
1997 - Preki (Weeks 12 & 14)
1998 - Vitalis Takawira (Week 10)
1999 - Chris Klein (Week 19)
2000 - Peter Vermes (Week 10), Tony Meola (Week 15)
2001 - Chris Klein (Week 2), Chris Brown (Week 3)
2002 - Chris Klein (Week 4), Tony Meola (Week 21)
2003 - Chris Klein (Weeks 2 & 27), Preki (Weeks 9 & 12), Igor Simutenkov (Week 15)
2004 - Davy Arnaud (Week 14)|
2005 - Josh Wolff (Weeks 7 & 20)
2006 - Scott Sealy (Week 12), Davy Arnaud (Week 24), Josh Wolff (Week 27), Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. (Week 28)
2007 - Eddie Johnson (Weeks 2, 8 & 9), Scott Sealy (week 24)
2008 - Claudio Lopez (Week 30)
2009 - Josh Wolff (Weeks 5, 9 & 25)
2011 - Omar Bravo (Week 1)
