Mon, May 31, 2021
NEW YORK (Monday, May 31, 2021) – LA Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond has been voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 7 of the 2021 MLS season.
Bond recorded 12 saves in leading the Galaxy to a 1-0 shutout victory against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday afternoon.
The 12 saves were the second-most by a goalkeeper in a single game in the Galaxy’s 26-year history, and the most for a shutout victory in the club’s records. It was the second shutout in seven MLS starts for the England-born goalkeeper, who joined the Galaxy from English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion in the offseason.
On Saturday, Bond made nine saves after the halftime break, securing the Galaxy’s victory which saw the game’s only goal come through a 70th-minute own goal. After the Galaxy took the lead, Bond first kept his side in front with a quality stop on Andrés Ríos in the 79th minute.
But the best was yet to come. Bond pulled off a highlight-reel double save in the 82nd minute, first turning away a long-range effort from Ríos, then stopping a rebound attempt from Shea Salinas, to keep the Quakes and deliver all three points for the Galaxy (SEE SAVES HERE).
The Galaxy now have three weeks off for the international break before they return to action on June 19 in a top-of-the-table clash in the Western Conference against still-undefeated Seattle Sounders FC at Dignity Health Sports Park (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+)
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
COURTESY MLS COMMUNICATIONS
