Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper, Jamaican Donovan Ricketts was voted Major League
Soccer’s Player of the Week for Week 4 of the 2009 season. Ricketts had
five saves and withstood 12 shots as the Los Angeles Galaxy played to a
0-0 draw with Chivas USA in this season’s first installment of the
SuperClásico.
This is Ricketts’ first Player of the Week award, and this
marks the first time since 2006 that two goalkeepers (Kasey Keller in
Week 2) have been named Player of the Week in the same season. Troy
Perkins and Joe Cannon took home the award in Weeks 13 and 27 of the
2006 season.
Ricketts was poised in goal for the Galaxy, starting in his
first MLS game and weathering three early opportunities from Chivas USA
to keep the Galaxy level. In the 17th minute Chivas USA forward Eduardo
Lillingston broke past the Galaxy back line and into a one-on-one
position with the Galaxy keeper. Ricketts blocked Lillingston’s shot
and Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez cleared the ball out of play.
Ricketts was tested again in the waning moments of the second
half. After Greg Berhalter was sent off in the 79th minute for denying
a goal scoring opportunity, the Galaxy were forced to play a man down
for the final 11 minutes of the game. The 31-year-old MLS newcomer
denied both Chivas scoring opportunities in stoppage time, including a
low hard drive from Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan.
Ricketts, from Montego Bay, Jamaica, signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy
on Dec. 23, 2008. He began his professional career with Jamaican side
Village United before moving to English club Bradford City where he
made 104 appearances from 2005-2008. Ricketts has played a significant
role in Jamaica’s FIFA World Cup qualifying efforts in 2002, 2006, and
2010, notching 72 career appearances for the Jamaican national team.
