GMC News
Kandji (Former GMC Soccer) Honored
Kandji wins MLS Player of the Week honors for Week 8
Red Bulls forward notched goal, two assists in 4-1 victory over San Jose
05/11/2009 05:23 PM
Major League Soccer Communications
New York’s Macoumba Kandji (center) is quickly emerging as an MLS star. (M. Stobe/Getty)
NEW YORK — New York Red Bulls forward Macoumba Kandji was voted Major League Soccer’s Player of the Week for Week 8 of the 2009 season. Kandji recorded a goal and added two assists as the New York Red Bulls stormed past the San Jose Earthquakes 4-1 last Friday night at Giants Stadium.
The New York Red Bulls headed into the game looking to snap a three-game losing streak, and they pressured the San Jose Earthquakes from the first whistle. The Red Bulls jumped out to an early lead in the 7th minute on a Jorge Rojas free kick. Rojas’ second came only six minutes later when Kandji flicked on a Carlos Johnson throw-in in the 13th minute that found Rojas open in front of the net for an easy tap-in goal.
Kandji was on the delivery end of the next goal in the 22nd minute. He received an Albert Celades pass into space on the right side of the field, gained possession and crossed a low ball past San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon. The ball found the feet of Juan Pablo Angel who finished from close range.
With the Red Bulls leading 3-0 Kandji continued his offensive pressure in the 40th minute and stole an attempted back pass by Earthquakes defender Kelly Gray. He streaked down the middle of the field toward goal and fired a low right-footed drive into the bottom right corner of the goal. Kandji’s goal, his second of the season, helped snap the Red Bulls losing streak and capped a one-game goal production that matched the total scored by Red Bull players in eight previous games.
Kandji, 23, from Dakar, Senegal is in his first full MLS season. The 6-foot-4-inch forward attended the Georgia Military College before making his professional debut with the USL’s Atlanta Silverbacks. Kandji made his MLS debut while on loan from the Silverbacks on September 27, 2008. The Red Bulls purchased Kandji’s rights during the offseason and placed him on their Senior Roster. This marks the first Player of the Week award for Kandji and first for a Red Bull player since Angel received the honor in Week 20 of the 2008 season.
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 https://www.soccerreporters.com/.
https://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090511&content_id=251760&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp
