Whitecap Camilo named Player of the Week

The Vancouver Whitecaps have their first ever Player of the Week honour.

Brazilian striker Camilo da Silvo Sanvezzo won the weekly poll of the North American Soccer Reporters for his two stoppage-time goals in Vancouver’s improbable 3-3 draw with Sporting Kansas City.

Camilo also was credited with an assist on Atiba Harris’s goal for the ‘Caps.

Camilo tucked home a perfect pass from Davide Chiumiento in the 92nd minute to bring the score to 3-2, then headed home a cross from Nazir Khalfan 90 seconds later to cap one of the most incredible comebacks in MLS history.

According to MLS, the game marked the sixth time in history “two or more goals were scored in stoppage time to gain a result.”

In July of 2003, D.C. United trailed New England 2-1 going into stoppage time, and got three goals to come away with a 4-2 win. But, while the three goals is one more than Vancouver scored, DCU trailed by only one going into stoppage time. The third goal was gravy.

And, the Vancouver fightback marked only the fourth time in MLS history that a team trailing by three goals came back to grab at least a point.

And, it spoiled Teal Bunbury’s return to Canada. Bunbury, Public Enemy No. 1 in the eyes of Canadian soccer fans, scored twice as SKC roared to a 3-0 lead. Bunbury, who played with the Canadian U-20 program, infamously decided to switch to the U.S. — the country where he grew up — in 2010.

How The 11 voted: Camilo got the nod over Bunbury, as the most thrilling game of the weekend couldn’t be ignored. Camilo edges ahead not only due to the thrilling nature of the way he scored his two goals, but because he was effective all game long. If not for some ridiculous work from Sporting Kansas City keeper Jimmy Nielsen in the first half, Camilo would have scored four.

Camilo was dangerous all game long, making dangerous runs, creating space and making opportunities for others.

Bunbury though, did get the second-place vote. No matter your opinion of his decision to play for the U.S. over Canada, he deserves some props for being able to walk into a hostile environment, hear chants of “traitor, traitor,” get booed every time he comes near the ball AND score two very well-taken goals. Neither of his goals was of the easy variety. The kid proved he’s got some stones in what has to go down as maybe the most difficult game of his MLS career.