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SBI MLS Rookie of the Week: Blake Brettschneider

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Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

In what was one of the best weeks of the season for Major League Soccer rookies, one of the least-heralded first-year players stood out the most.

D.C. United's Blake Brettschneider, a second-round MLS Supplemental Draft pick out of the University of South Carolina, delivered two assists in the club's 3-2 victory at Portland, playing a major role in making D.C. the first visiting team to win at Jeld-Wen Field in league play.

Brettschneider, who earned the start in place of an injured Charlie Davies and played 90 minutes, headed a throw-in toward the goal mouth for fellow rookie Perry Kitchen, who scored his first career goal to open the scoring against Portland. Brettschneider then flicked on a Bill Hamid long kick toward Josh Wolff, who finished to score the eventual game-winning goal later in the match.

Other rookies who stood out this past week included Kitchen and D.C. centerback Ethan White; San Jose's Anthony Ampaipitakwong, who also accounted for two assists; and FC Dallas defender Bobby Warshaw.

What did you think of Brettschneider's performance? Who was your pick for Rookie of the Week?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Trivia: Josh Wolff is also a South Carolina grad (from way back when I was there) in fact, I think SC’s coach told me they even went to the same high school.

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  2. It is amazing — first, that someone picked that late is contributing this way, and, second, that DC United of all teams found him.

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  3. There’s no need to do anything with him. Just let him continue to develop. Wolff isn’t a 90 minute every game player. Davies may not be there next year. He’ll get minutes. He’ll learn his position and hopefully he’ll hit his stride in 2 years along with Hamid, Najar, Kitchen, Korb, and White. Maybe Junior and Shanosky as well. That’s when the fun really starts.

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  4. Ampai continues to impress with every chance he gets. you can see him over the ball either on the wing or when he drifts inside, patiently waiting for a teammate to move into space. Hopefully the Earthquakes finally get better at moving off the ball this year, but regardless Ampai looks like he belongs on the field from the first minute. Once he gets some starts in league play, i think we’ll be talking about him for ROY even more.

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  5. Brettschneider killed it in preseason and looked great on Sunday but I don’t know what to do with him. You can’t play him over Wolfy or Davies, or can you? Maybe there’s a way to bump up Charlie then squeeze in Brett and Wolff as wingers or something? I don’t know but let’s see more of the kid!

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  6. I don’t know what qualifies one for the honorable mention slot, but certainly Gebriel Farfan getting the party started in Toronto with his first career goal should be worth at least a mention, shouldn’t it?

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  7. That throw-in to the near post set play DC used was nasty. My heart almost went into my stomach when it nearly worked from the other touchline a few minutes later.
    Anyway, hats off to Brettschneider as he’s coming on strong recently.

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