Major League Soccer

MLS Playoffs: Round 3 POTW: RSL's Nick Rimando

In Goal.com's last player of the week award for the 2009 MLS season, Nick Rimando nabs the honors thanks to a clean sheet and penalty heroics from the RSL stopper.

Nov 15, 2009 10:12:39 PM

MLS: Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake, June 2008 (ISI)

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MLS: Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake, June 2008 (ISI)

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Real Salt Lake

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Nick Rimando

Like last week's round, there wasn't much debate in the player of the week votes for the conference finals round of the Major League Soccer playoffs. Whenever one goalkeeper keeps a clean sheet and blocks three penalties in the shootout, there rarely is.

In the Eastern Conference final, Real Salt Lake held host Chicago Fire scoreless through 120 minutes and forced penalties. Nick Rimando swept away three shots in the shootout to help the Lakers nab an unlikely MLS Cup berth.

"Nick Rimando is the man after saving two consecutive "sudden death" penalty kicks, sending Real Salt Lake on to Seattle," said Salt Lake correspondent Randy Davis. "Although he's small in stature, he has some of the quickest reflexes of any keeper in the league, and he showed that on Saturday night."

Small in stature indeed. The game pitted two 5'10 goalkeepers against each other. Whereas Jon Busch didn't make a block in the shootout, Rimando pawed away three.

"Nick Rimando may be tied as the shortest starting goalkeeper in MLS, but he is head and shoulders above most when it comes to penalty kicks," pointed out chief editor Andrea Canales. "He's smart, instinctive and fearless about flinging himself in the path of the ball. Once again, Rimando makes the difference for his team in the playoffs - don't count RSL out when he's guarding the net."

The last time the 30-year-old made it to the MLS Cup final he had to triumph in penalties to get there as well. Back in 2004 he pulled off similar heroics to help D.C. United reach the final and eventually hoist the trophy.

"Rimando's performance against Chicago was one of the ages," gushed Goal.com Magazine chief editor Greg Lalas. "First he made a diving save on a Marco Pappa stinger late in the second half, then he made three saves out of seven shots in the penalties to send RSL to their first-ever MLS Cup final. An overwhelming performance from an underrated performer."

Goal.com

For more on the Major League Soccer playoffs, visit Goal.com's MLS page

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