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Ricochet · 23-09-2003, 05:27 PM

http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/MLS...95_58549.shtml

Hat Trick Earns Donovan Player of Week 22/09/03
San Jose Earthquakes forward Landon Donovan has been named MLS Player of the Week by the Professional Soccer Reporters Association for the week ending September 21, 2003. The 21-year-old scored the first hat trick in the Bay Area club's history Saturday in a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards.

Donovan's first goal came 26 minutes into the first half on the Earthquakes' only shot of the opening stanza. The U.S. National Team player received a long ball up top and faked a pass to the right, where Ronnie Ekelund was making a run into the box. The fake allowed Donovan to evade defender Diego Gutierrez and fire a shot from just inside the box with his left foot. Goalkeeper Tony Meola's save attempt fell short and ball went in just inside the right post to give the Quakes the lead.

Donovan's second goal came in the 70th minute and reestablished the Earthquakes' two-goal lead. Teammate Dwayne De Rosario fed a pass across the goalmouth to far left post, where Donovan beat Meola and defender Jimmy Conrad to poke the ball home. Donovan completed his hat trick in the third minute of added time, again beating Gutierrez, who missed on a sliding tackle and allowed Donovan to move freely into the box. Donovan slotted the ball past Meola, who could do nothing to stop the ball. Donovan completed the game with a perfect strike rate, notching three goals on only three shots.

This is the first Player of the Week award this season for Donovan and the first for any Earthquakes player since goalkeeper Pat Onstad claimed the honor for a six-save effort in a shutout of the Chicago Fire on May 10. Donovan won two Player of the Week awards in 2001, the Earthquakes' championship season.

23-09-2003, 05:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ricochet TS Member Favourite Team: USMNT, Manchester United Ricochet is Offline Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York Posts: 4,405 vCash: 500 Rep: Rep Points: 698 Country:	Hat Trick Earns Donovan Player of Week http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/MLS...95_58549.shtml Hat Trick Earns Donovan Player of Week 22/09/03 San Jose Earthquakes forward Landon Donovan has been named MLS Player of the Week by the Professional Soccer Reporters Association for the week ending September 21, 2003. The 21-year-old scored the first hat trick in the Bay Area club's history Saturday in a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards. Donovan's first goal came 26 minutes into the first half on the Earthquakes' only shot of the opening stanza. The U.S. National Team player received a long ball up top and faked a pass to the right, where Ronnie Ekelund was making a run into the box. The fake allowed Donovan to evade defender Diego Gutierrez and fire a shot from just inside the box with his left foot. Goalkeeper Tony Meola's save attempt fell short and ball went in just inside the right post to give the Quakes the lead. Donovan's second goal came in the 70th minute and reestablished the Earthquakes' two-goal lead. Teammate Dwayne De Rosario fed a pass across the goalmouth to far left post, where Donovan beat Meola and defender Jimmy Conrad to poke the ball home. Donovan completed his hat trick in the third minute of added time, again beating Gutierrez, who missed on a sliding tackle and allowed Donovan to move freely into the box. Donovan slotted the ball past Meola, who could do nothing to stop the ball. Donovan completed the game with a perfect strike rate, notching three goals on only three shots. This is the first Player of the Week award this season for Donovan and the first for any Earthquakes player since goalkeeper Pat Onstad claimed the honor for a six-save effort in a shutout of the Chicago Fire on May 10. Donovan won two Player of the Week awards in 2001, the Earthquakes' championship season. __________________ "Everyone on this forum is dumber for having read this post."