Wizards F Lopez named MLS Player of the Week

Oct 20, 2008 - 10:32 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Kansas City Wizards forward Claudio Lopez was named the MLS Player of the Week on Monday after a three-point performance in the Wizards' critical 3-2 triumph over the San Jose Earthquakes.

With the Wizards fighting for a playoff spot, Lopez came up with one of his biggest performances of the year. In the final seconds of the contest with the teams tied at 2-2, Lopez booted a perfect corner kick and teammate Herculez Gomez drilled the game-winner past San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon.

The game-winning assist was the third time Lopez helped snap a tie in Saturday's game alone. The 5-10, 166-pound forward got the Wizards on the board early when he poked in the game's opening goal in the 18th minute. After the Earthquakes tied it just two minutes later, Lopez set up Davy Arnaud's go-ahead goal in the 27th minute to give the Wizards a 2-1 advantage.

Lopez has started 24 of 27 games this year, registering five goals and six assists.