Goal.com's MLS Player Of Week 31: Seattle's Freddie Ljungberg

Freddie Ljungberg is Goal.com's Major League Soccer player of the week for matchday 31.

Oct 19, 2009 5:33:11 PM

Battling back from injury and low blood sugar, Freddie Ljungberg showed in week 31 exactly why Seattle Sounders FC made him the club's first ever designated player. A 3-2 win over the Kansas City Wizards ensured the expansion side will take part in the postseason and Ljungberg had a hand in every Sounders goal.

"Freddie did the job for the Sounders - made all the right plays to get them into the playoffs," said chief editor Andrea Canales.

In the first half, a crafty corner by Ljungberg caught out the Wizards' defense, allowing Tyrone Marshall to volley home a loose ball. After KC hit up Kasey Keller for two goals and the lead in the second half, the Swede took the game upon himself. Another corner in the 69th minute found Roger Levesque at the far post for the equalizer and, seven minutes later, the 32-year-old harried Matt Besler until the defender coughed up the ball, allowing Ljungberg to slide in the game-winning assist to Nate Jaqua.

"In a seesaw battle against the Kansas City Wizards, the Sounders went down 2-1 in less than 10 minutes early in the second half," said Seattle correspondent John Zielonka. "Ljungberg stepped up and assisted on the two goals that gave the Sounders the win and catapulted them into the playoffs. His leadership and tenacity were not only evident in this match but throughout the 2009 season."

While Ljungberg's play has proved valuable throughout the MLS season, Steve Cronin has languished in the USL. With a goalkeeper injury crisis, D.C. United brought in the former Los Angeles Galaxy shot-stopper on a short term loan. Cronin followed the footsteps of Josh Wicks, another LA goalkeeper who rejuvenated his career in the nation's capital, by putting on a quality display between the sticks against the Columbus Crew.

"Cronin stepped into a chaotic situation when he signed on loan from Portland (USL-1) on Monday and performed admirably in dire conditions at R.F.K. Stadium," explained MLS columnist Kyle McCarthy. "Cronin's composure and his six saves made Luciano Emilio's early goal stand up as United kept its playoff hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Columbus."

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