Thierry Henry wins MLS weekly honour for the second time in a row

Thierry Henry

For the second time in a row, Thierry Henry is the MLS Player of the Week.

The New York Red Bulls’ striker scored three times against the Montreal Impact Saturday, leading his team to a 5-2 win. Over the last two weeks, Henry has found the net five times. And, he spoke to the team at halftime of the Impact game; with the score tied 2-2, the French great urged his team to do better. Guess he likes to lead by example, as it was his play that spurred the Red Bulls to life.

Henry will have to score a lot this season if the Red Bulls, whose suspect defence was again exposed, are to be beasts in the East.

The Red Bulls’ most famous Designated Player capture 21 of 25 first-place votes among the membership of the North American Soccer Reporters, so it wasn’t even close.

Henry’s stint with Arsenal over the winter looks to have re-energized the French living legend. He’s had some impressive showings in his time with the Red Bulls, but never has he looked as awesome as he has in the last couple of weeks. Right now, he’s in MVP form, creating space, making great runs away from the ball, and turning sort-of chances into goals.

How The 11 voted: Henry, but it wasn’t the cake walk you might think. Portland’s Darlington Nagbe scored two wonder goals, but the efforts were diminished by Real Salt Lake’s shock comeback which cost the Timbers all three points at home.

And then there were three D.C. United players to consider. Dwayne De Rosario had a solid game in the 4-1 win over FC Dallas, setting up couple of goals, including an inch-perfect cross to his former TFC teammate Maicon Santos, to finish. DeRo also hadf a audacious 30-yard half volley crash off the bar. Maicon Santos scored twice, the first being a screamer of a shot from outside the box (this was a hell of a weekend for highlight-reel goals). But the second-place vote went to Nick DeLeon, who has emerged as the most exciting rookie in MLS so far this young season. He absolutely dominated the left side of the pitch against Dallas, hit a post, scored a goal and then created another out of almost nothing.

And, DeLeon would be the early leader in the “Kyle Beckerman Crazy Hair Award” contest. There may be a few teams who had earlier picks in the draft who may rue not taking the kid from Louisville.