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SBI MLS Player of the Week: Nick Rimando

Nick Rimando

By IVES GALARCEP

There were goals galore in the opening week of the 2014 MLS season, but the best performance of the weekend was turned in by someone who kept goals from finding the net.

Nick Rimando turned in a masterful effort in goal for Real Salt Lake last Saturday, making nine saves, including a last-second penalty kick save, to help RSL post a 1-0 victory against the Galaxy. Rimando’s heroics made him the easy pick for SBI MLS Player of the Week.

Rimando made save after save in a memorable duel with Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who also turned in a strong outing in goal. Rimando kept Keane off the scoreboard on multiple occasions, including the late penalty, which he denied with a cat-like diving stop.

Rimando beat out Houston’s Will Bruin, Vancouver’s Sebastian Fernandez, Columbus’ Federico Higuain and FC Dallas’ Mauro Diaz for this week’s honors.

What did you think of Rimando’s performance? Which player earned your vote for MLS Player of the Week?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Stat hog and all around stud out there. Far be it from me to tell someone like Keane how to play the game BUT if I was to make one intsy tintsy suggestion I’d say do away the stutter pause step on penalties. Rimando said he watched and waited as long as he could to commit to his dive and guessed right and it was the pause by Keane that allowed him to easily beat the ball away. Rimando also just really good. Beat in mls in fact.

    RSL with the tough schedule at the beginning I the season actually is turns out good for them because they have SJ and LA again coming off ccl games and and starters will rest in mls play for ccl. Let’s go RSL.

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  2. Much deserved (from a Galaxy fan). Rimando was fantastic. If it wasn’t for him, Galaxy wins 3-1. Easy. And, he’s a class guy. Top professional.

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    • *Maybe* LA Galaxy win 3-2 without Rimando, but not 3-1. Don’t forget about the terrible offside call against Luke Mulholland who was actually kept on by 3 Galaxy defenders.

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      • Good point. Yes, that was a phantom call if I’ve ever seen one. As a Galaxy fan, I was actually embarrassed by the one-sided display from the ref.

      • Ding ding ding. I’m a Galaxy fan, but there’s no doubt LA was on the positive side of the some god-awful officiating; not least of which was that “off side” disallowed goal.

        That said, if not for Rimando and the post, LA could have taken 3 points.

  3. Watching the game and Rimando’s heroics from about 40 yards away, I’d say he deserves the award. Chump… LOL I kept telling my wife that it would take a golazo to beat him… me and my big mouth.

    Credit to RSL, their post game celebration was all class, interacting with those annoying RSL fans in that corner to my right… kudos for that classy interaction…

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  4. I’m feeling pretty good about our third goalkeeper heading in to the WCl. He should make practices in Brazil just as competitive as he made this weekends game.

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    • Yep.

      Anybody that says we should take a younger keeper “for the experience” isn’t paying attention to Nick Rimando. He’s definitely our 3rd best keeper. He not only deserves the spot, but will make it even more competitive in Brazil as you have stated.

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      • I disagree, he is not “definitely our 3rd best keeper”. He is definitley one of our top three keepers, but he could be our 2nd best keeper, or even our best keeper. I would liek to see him get a real shot at starting.

      • Splitting hairs huh?

        It’s great that you think he is the best keeper (or potentially) but JK, the man that makes the decisions, obviously has Timmy as #1 and Guzan as #2 as evidence by who started when the European players were available but Timmy was out for whatever reason. Is this fluid? Of course! However, I believe you get the point of my post.

        Whenever we see one of those mock WC rosters on this site or any other, there is a group of folks that think Rimando should be left behind in favor of one of the younger guys: Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid, Tally Hall, etc.

        I strongly disagree with that as I’m sure you do too.

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