Sporting Weekly Round Up

Nielsen earned the most votes for Sporting Kansas City 2011 Most Valuable Player, recording 72 saves in 29 appearances to date this season. Behind a 1.22 goals against average in 2011, the "White Puma" as he is called by fans, has led the club to five shutouts thus far in 2011 and his 10 victories are tired for seventh most amongst MLS goalkeepers this year. 

Nielsen is named team MVP, Besler awarded Defensive Player of the Year via SportingKC.com 

With the victory and the Philadelphia Union's 1-1 draw in Toronto, Sporting moved into first place in the Eastern Conference on 48 points via the goals scored tiebreaker. New York remains in fifth in the East on 43 points with a single game remaining against the Union in which they will now be without Henry. 

Sporting KC can win the Eastern Conference with a victory over D.C. on Saturday via SportingKC.com

There have been a lot of memorable moments in the stands this year and lots of people behind the scenes doing great things to make the passion stronger and stronger for our team. So with all of this great support we would like to find out who is the 2011 Sporting Kansas City Fan of the Year?

Head over to AdAstra.org to find out how you can place your vote.

Excited to announce I will join MLSsoccer.com full time on October 31 as a New Media Editor in NYC. Will finish season in KC before moving.

Great news for Sporting KC beat writer, Andrew Wiebe, although he will be missed via twitter.com

Teal Bunbury scored his 14th league goal, breaking his tie with Matt McKeon, Jose Burciaga, Sasha Victorine, and Claudio Lopez and moving into a tie with Jack Jewsbury for 13th on that list. 

As always, some great info after SKC's win over NYRB via downthebyline.com 

I wouldn't have responded to that question either. Ridiculous. Very brave of you to not bow down to a sports promoter. After that you bravely did nothing. No coverage. No mention. No effort to learn anything about the team. 

Thad Bell responds to Jack Harry's "Jack's Smack" via thebackpost.net

But, even if SKC fail to progress in the playoffs there would still be progress within the club that may not necessarily be seen by the naked eye- this team is young. The average age of the players who started against New York was 26, while the backline's average starting age was 24, one of the lowest in MLS. 

The future looks bright for Sporting KC via thefrontment.blogspot.com

Sporting Kansas City is one of the toughest teams in the league to beat at home, and doing so with ten men and without your top player makes the task all but impossible. 

Soccer By Ives breaks down Sporting KC's 2-0 win over New York via soccerbyives.net

"The internet has turned anyone with a library card into a reporter, or a columnist, or even, a media hater. So, I say to you, have at it. I declare myself fair game."

Well, since you gave us permission, Jack....

Jack Harry responds to SKC fans not happy with his previous installment of "Jack's Smack" via NBCactionnews.com 

Philly and Sporting KC tied twice this season and also are even on goal differential, which is the next tiebreaker. That means the tiebreaker likely would come down to goals scored, where Sporting leads 49-43.

Tod Palmer breaks down the possible Eastern Conference scenarios via KansasCity.com