PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nate Jaqua, Seattle Sounders FC
Two weeks ago, Steve Jenkins, the cancer-stricken son of former Seattle Sounder Tom Jenkins, was promised and delivered goals from San Jose forward Cam Weaver — two, in fact. Last weekend, Jaqua offered to do the same. “I told him, ‘I’ll use that, too. I’ll score a goal for you tomorrow,’” Jaqua told the Seattle Times, and he also came through, with two goals and an assist in Seattle’s 3-0 win over Colorado in front of a record crowd of 32,526 at Qwest Field. Jaqua now has six goals on the seasons, good enough for fourth in MLS, and he’s second on his team and in the league with five assists.
KEY GAME
D.C. United at Columbus, Saturday, 7 p.m., ESPN2 » In United’s latest first place vs. second place showdown, they’ll face former midfielder Brian Carroll, who is 2-0 against D.C. since departing Washington after the 2007 season, and forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who is on pace for consecutive league MVP honors with four goals in his last three games. – Craig Stouffer
STORY LINES
1. What now for the U.S. men’s national team? » With less than a year before the 2010 World Cup, expectations have been revised and attention is on the rise. U.S. head coach Bob Bradley made strides solidifying much of his roster during a dream final week at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, but the second-half collapse in the final against Brazil showed there is still much to be done with the rest of the squad. Bradley’s group for July’s CONCACAF Gold Cup includes Freddy Adu — more than any American, he desperately needs to prove he belongs — but has a number of questionable omissions, including D.C. United rookie Chris Pontius and Houston midfielder Brad Davis.
2. U.S. winners despite the Confederations Cup final loss » Landon Donovan is hands down the best U.S. field player. He’s still too small to be a forward outside of MLS, but he showed the poise and class to earn one more chance in Europe. Charlie Davies could be the most promising forward on the U.S. roster. The former Boston College striker still needs to mature but his near bicycle kick goal vs. Spain wasn’t the only thing about his play that turned heads. Jay Demerit proved he should’ve been given a chance in the U.S. defense before South Africa, and it could be a while before he gives up his spot.
3. Real Madrid buys; Barcelona to sell? » As absurd as Real Madrid’s purchase of Káka ($91 million) from AC Milan and Cristiano Ronaldo ($130 million) from Manchester United seemed, last week Manchester City tried desperately to generate its own headlines by bidding $42 million for Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o — and offering to pay him a salary of more than $15 million per year. The Cameroon forward scored 35 goals last year as Barcelona captured the UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, and La Liga. The Premier League club and its billionaire ownership group from Abu Dhabi was rebuked by Káka in January, but Eto’o said he’d make the move if he can’t come to terms on a new deal in Spain.
