USL News Release

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

TAMPA, FL -- United Soccer Leagues announced the Team of the Week honors for the sixth week of the USL season, honoring Portland’s Mandjou Keita as the USL First Division Player of the Week and Western Mass’ Yan Klukowski as the USL Second Division Player of the Week.

The Timbers entered their weekend series against the Islanders winless in four matches (0-3-1) in Puerto Rico since 2005. Last season, the Timbers earned their first point against the Islanders in the lone contest in Puerto Rico with a come-from-behind 2-2 draw on May 16. Mandjou Keita would tally his first two goals of the year with in each game to lead Portland to a draw and their first-ever victory at Puerto Rico.

Trailing the hosts 1-0 after a 52nd minute tally, the Timbers answered in the 59th minute when a shot by Ryan Pore was pushed wide. But second half sub Brian Farber chased down the ball and helped the Timbers earn a corner kick on the play. David Hayes took the ensuing corner and delivered an in-swinging ball from the right side that found Mandjou Keita on the back post for the header equalizer as they went on to post their second straight draw on the island.

Two nights later, the visiting Timbers pressured early with Keith Savage slipping a through ball into the box for Keita that forced Puerto Rico goalkeeper Bill Gaudette to leave his line and challenge the play.

The Timbers opened the scoring in the 24th minute of play started by David Hayes down the left side. Hayes played the ball up field for Brian Farber, who then sent a low cross back into the box from deep in the left corner. The pass snuck its way to Keita near the penalty spot, and with room, he buried his second goal of the season inside the right post.

In the 54th minute, Hayes led a charge by Portland and sent a pass to Keita wide down the right side. Keita spotted Mamadou Danso, who had given the Timbers a 2-1 lead earlier in the match, making a run on the back post and crossed the ball into the box, but Danso’s shot back across the goal missed wide.

The Western Mass Pioneers entered the weekend with a 0-4-1 record playing host to the unbeaten 3-0-2 Wilmington Hammerheads, but stood their ground to post their first victory of the year 2-1 on the play of midfielder Yan Klukowski, who had a goal and an assist.

Having never led in any of their previous five contests, the Pioneers enjoyed their first when Neil Krause passed on a difficult shot and sent the ball to Klukowski, who nailed it on the volley for the opening strike 19 minutes in.

Klukowski turned provider to help double the advantage 10 minutes later when his corner was put in by defender Federico Molinari at the back post with a diving header. 

USL First Division Team of the Week
Pos	Name	Team	Highlights
G	Pat Hannigan	Miami	Five saves in 0-0 draw at Minnesota
D	Frankie Sanfilippo	Charleston	Goal in 2-0 win at Rochester
D	Lyle Adams	Austin	Led team in 1-0 loss to Carolina
D	Kupono Low	Carolina	Led team in 3-0 win at Cleveland
D	Jonathan Greenfield	Minnesota	Led team in 0-0 draw against Miami
M	Daniel Paladini	Carolina	Two assists in 3-0 win at Cleveland
M	Brian Farber	Portland	Two assists in 2-1 win at Puerto Rico
M	Darren Spicer	Charleston	Goal, assist in pair of wins
M	Andriy Budnyy	Carolina	Goal in 3-0 win at Cleveland
F	Mandjou Keita	Portland	Two goals in win, draw at Puerto Rico
F	Sean Fraser	Puerto Rico	Goal in 1-1 draw against Portland

USL Second Division Team of the Week
Pos	Name	Team	Highlights
G	James Thorpe	Western Mass	Seven saves in 2-1 win over Wilmington
D	Yomby William	Richmond	Led team in 1-1 draw against Baltimore
D	Paul Robson	Baltimore	Assist in 1-1 draw at Richmond
D	Federico Molinari	Western Mass	Goal in 2-1 win over Wilmington
D	Dustin Bixler	Harrisburg	Led team in 3-0 win over Charlotte
M	Val Teixeira	Baltimore	Goal in 1-1 draw at Richmond
M	Adrian Bumbut	Richmond	Goal in 1-1 draw against Baltimore
M	Yan Klukowski	Western Mass	Goal, assist in 2-1 win over Wilmington
M	Stephen Astwood	Bermuda	Assist in 1-0 win over Real Maryland
F	Steve Fisher	Harrisburg	Two assists in 3-0 win over Charlotte
F	Domico Coddington	Bermuda	Goal in 1-0 win over Real Maryland