By DAN KARELL
Three names remain in the running for 2013 Major League Soccer MVP after the league revealed the finalists for its end-of-season awards.
Robbie Keane, Mike Magee, and Marco Di Vaio are all in the running for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, though none of the trio remain in the MLS Cup playoffs. MLS Golden Boot winner Camilo Sanvezzo and New York Red Bulls standout Tim Cahill failed to make the final list.
The Coach of the Year race should be tightly-contested, with Mike Petke, Caleb Porter, and Jason Kreis the three finalists. Jose Goncalves is a finalist for both MLS Newcomer of the Year and MLS Defender of the Year after a terrific first season with the New England Revolution.
MLS will announce the award winners starting on Monday with the Rookie of the Year and Fair Play (Individual and Team) Awards. MVP will be announced last, on Dec. 5.
Here is a closer look at all of the finalists for the MLS end-of-season awards:
MLS END-OF-SEASON AWARD FINALISTS
Rookie of the Year
Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids)
Dillon Powers (Colorado Rapids)
DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
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Individual Fair Play*
Jalil Anibaba (Chicago Fire)
Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers)
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games and minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
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Team Fair Play
Houston Dynamo
LA Galaxy
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.
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Defender of the Year
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
Jose Goncalves (New England Revolution)
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
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Humanitarian of the Year
Jeb Brovsky (Montreal Impact)
Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
Matt Reis (New England Revolution)
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Referee of the Year
Ismail Elfath
Hilario Grajeda
Baldomero Toledo
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Assistant Referee of the Year
Frank Anderson
Bill Dittmar
Kermit Quisenberry
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Coach of the Year
Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake)
Mike Petke (New York Red Bulls)
Caleb Porter (Portland Timbers)
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Comeback Player of the Year
Kevin Alston (New England Revolution)
Conor Casey (Philadelphia Union)
Lamar Neagle (Seattle Sounders FC)
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Goalkeeper of the Year
Jimmy Nielsen (Sporting Kansas City)
Donovan Ricketts (Portland Timbers)
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
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Newcomer of the Year
Jose Goncalves (New England Revolution)
Nigel Reo-Coker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)
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Most Valuable Player
Marco DiVaio (Montreal Impact)
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Mike Magee (Chicago Fire)
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What do you make of the nominees? Any glaring omissions or undeserving candidates? Share your thoughts below.