No surprises here.
For the fourth time this season, New York's Thierry Henry was named MLS Player of the Week, an honor that was likely decided the second the Frenchman's audacious olimpico ricocheted off the post and in on Saturday against Columbus. That goal, plus another tally and an assist on Dax McCarty's winner in the Red Bulls 3-1 home win vs. the Crew, led to a runaway victory for Henry, as more than two-thirds of the journalists who cast a ballot turned in a first-place vote for the legendary striker (see how the media voted here).
After the Crew took an early lead at Red Bull Arena on Saturday night, Henry struck back in the ninth minute via a feed from fellow Designated Player Rafa Márquez and curled in the corner kick that McCarty buried before saving his best for second-half stoppage time. With backup goalkeeper Matt Lampson cheating toward the front post, Henry curled a ball over his head, off the back post and in to score a signature goal in a career already bursting with them.
“I’ve scored some OK goals in my career,” Henry said afterward. “But I have to say, this one is not a bad one.”
You don't say, Thierry?
New York coach Hans Backe was impressed as well, but he'll be even happier to see his star striker discovering his form just as the stretch run begins. If Saturday was any indication, Henry will surely continue to build on his totals of 13 goals and nine assists before season's end. His next opportunity will come Wednesday against East-leading Sporting KC (7 pm ET, watch LIVE online).
"He's been training very well," Backe said. "He's getting fitter and fitter after his injury and I think that as close as you're coming to the playoffs, that's a big thing for these guys. They get so much more motivated. ... But when he's sharp and motivated, it's very difficult to stop him."
Henry also collected the award for three consecutive weeks earlier in the season -- Week 3 through Week 5. Chicago's Álvaro Fernández finished second in the voting.
2012 MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Week 28: Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)
Week 27: Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)
Week 26: Federico Higuaín (Columbus Crew)
Week 25: Federico Higuaín (Columbus Crew)
Week 24: David Ferriera (FC Dallas)
Week23: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week22: Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)
Week21: Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew)
Week20: 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)
