Striker Jairo Arrieta played his third game for the Columbus Crew on Saturday. And what a charm it was.
After assisting on Chris Birchall’s 46th-minute winner against D.C. United last Saturday, the Costa Rican again helped the Crew earn three points by netting two goals – including a 34th-minute thunderbolt that proved to be the winner – against Sporting Kansas City en route to a 2-1 victory at Livestrong Sporting Park. The performance earned the 28-year-old striker Player of the Week honors for Week 21, as voted on by the North American Soccer Reporters (see who and how the media voted here).
WATCH: Arrieta rifles home the winner
It is Arrieta’s first Player of the Week nod since joining the Crew on April 26, and Columbus’ second of the season after Emilio Renteria took the honors in Week 12.
Arrieta barely beat out Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who notched 10 saves in a 1-1 draw with the Western Conference-leading San Jose Earthquakes.
2012 MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Week 21: Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew)
Week 20: Calen Carr (Houston Dynamo)
Week 19: Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 18: Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake)
Week 17: Danny Koevermans (Toronto FC)
Week 16: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week 13-15: Patrice Bernier (Montreal Impact)
Week 12: Emilio Rentería (Columbus Crew)
Week 11: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
Week 10: Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)
Week 9: Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 8: Steven Lenhart (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 7: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)
Week 6: Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)
Week 5: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Week 4: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Week 3: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls)
Week 2: David Estrada (Seattle Sounders)
Week 1: Kalif Alhassan (Portland Timbers)
