Edmonton fans witnessed some history: Senna named NASL Player of the Week By Steven Sandor Posted on September 3, 2013 Comments Off on Edmonton fans witnessed some history: Senna named NASL Player of the Week 0 669 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Senna vs. FC Edmonton PHOTO: FC EDMONTON Well, if there is any consolation for FC Edmonton out of its controversial 1-1 draw at home Sunday with New York, it was the fact that Cosmos midfielder Marcos Senna was named the NASL Player of the Week. If you’re going to give up a late game-tying goal at home, at least let the guy who scored it against you be feted NASL-wide for his efforts. Senna hammered a low free-kick from just outside the box with 11 minutes left in regulation to draw the game level. And, the more-than-3,000 supporters who came out to Clarke Stadium to see Sunday’s match got to see some history — it was the Spanish international’s first NASL goal. Senna is the biggest name signed so far in the NASL since, well, the old Cosmos was signing the likes of Pele and Beckenbauer a couple of generations ago. He’s won a European championship with Spain. He played in the 2006 World Cup. He had a glorious career at Villarreal. While NASL doesn’t have Designated Players – as there is no salary cap — Senna is as close as it comes to marquee names MLS has been able to bring in from Europe. “It’s an honor to be named NASL Player of the Week,” said Senna in a league-issued release (Senna doesn’t speak English, by the way). “It was fortunate that the free kick goal could help us earn a valuable point in the draw with Edmonton and I’m looking forward to playing in New York again this weekend, back in front of our great fans.” The goal was a controversial one. The free kick was handed out by referee Sheena Dickson after she judged that Eddies’ defender Albert Watson had handled the ball outside the area. Replays indicated that the ball struck him near the crest on his jersey on his chest — near his shoulder, but not a hand ball.
