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SBI MLS Rookie of the Week: Casey Townsend

Townsend (Getty Images)

Saturday night's game against Real Salt Lake is one that Casey Townsend won't soon forget.

With injuries to forwards Juan Pablo Angel and Alejandro Moreno, Townsend stepped up for Chivas USA, starting his second straight game and delievering the game-winning goal in Chivas' surprising 1-0 victory over RSL at Rio Tinto Stadium to earn SBI MLS Rookie of the Week honors.

Townsend showed a level of fearlessness to go up for a header off Ante Jazic's cross with goalkeeper Nick Rimando coming off his line to leap for the ball. When RSL centerback Chris Schuler impeded Rimando and made him unable to make a clean catch, Townsend, the fifth overall pick in January's SuperDraft out of the University of Maryland, pounced on the loose ball and poked it into the net for his first-career goal.

Townsend's goal gave him the edge for the weekly honors over New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Ryan Meara, who turned in another strong performance against the Colorado Rapids, and Columbus Crew midfielder Kirk Urso, who was steady and distributed well in a holding role against the Montreal Impact.

What did you think about Townsend's performance? Think he can be the answer up top for Chivas?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. since when is using the defender as a stepping stone legal? He fouled Schuler to even get up that high, cheap goal, but it counts. We’ll see how Chivas and he preform the the next time RSL meets up with them, or against pretty much anyone else this year. Enjoy it Chivas fans, your not going to get many more of those W’s this year!

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