FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper named MLS Player of the Week for second week in a row

by PegNews wire

FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper became only the second player to win back-to-back Player of the Week awards this season as he was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 19. Cooper scored both goals in FCD’s 2-0 road victory over Toronto FC on Sunday, extending the team’s undefeated streak to five games.

The victory improved the team’s record to 6-6-7 (25 points), only two points behind first-place Real Salt Lake and one point behind second place Houston in the Western Conference.

Cooper's penalty kick goal in the 81st minute of Sunday's game broke the scoreless game and stood up as the game winner. The Dallas-native finished the game off and sealed the victory for FC Dallas with a long-range blast in the second minute of added time. Cooper’s first POW honor was last week, when he scored twice in FCD’s 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy, becoming the first player to win the award unanimously this year.

With two goals on Sunday, Cooper set a new personal high with 13 goals on the season, moving into a tie with the Galaxy's Landon Donovan for the lead in the Budweiser Golden Boot race. It was Donovan who won back-to-back Player of the Week awards (Weeks 4 & 5).

Cooper has scored seven goals in the last seven games, including back-to-back two-goal games. Ten of Cooper’s 13 goals this season have either tied or given Dallas a lead in games, and the other three goals have increased the team’s lead. Dallas is now 18-1-6 all-time when Cooper scores a goal. He leads the League in shots (77), shots on goal (39) and is tied for the League lead in game-winning goals (4).

This is the third career Player of the Week award for Cooper, and the second this season. FC Dallas returns to action Saturday, Aug. 16 when they travel to face the Columbus Crew.

The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at www.soccerreporters.com.

Source: FC Dallas Communications