Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia, Columbus Crew SC midfielder Wil Trapp and Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri all overcame a measure of adversity and successfully returned to the pitch this season, earning them nominations for the MLS Comeback Player of the Year. The winner of the award will be announced on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Melia was a career journeyman and former MLS pool goalkeeper before earning a spot on Sporting Kansas City’s roster ahead of the 2015 season. The former Long Island Rough Riders, Rochester Rhinos, Charleston Battery, F.C. New York and Chivas USA ‘keeper seized the starting role nine games into the season and never looked back, turning in eight clean sheets, a 1.22 GAA, and a championship performance in the U.S. Open Cup final.
Melia was a career journeyman and former MLS pool goalkeeper before earning a spot on Sporting Kansas City’s roster ahead of the 2015 season. The former Long Island Rough Riders, Rochester Rhinos, Charleston Battery, F.C. New York and Chivas USA ‘keeper seized the starting role nine games into the season and never looked back, turning in eight clean sheets, a 1.22 GAA, and a championship performance in the U.S. Open Cup final.
Trapp suffered an early-season concussion that sidelined him for nearly three months. Upon his return, Crew SC’s 22-year-old vice-captain immediately reestablished himself as a force, helping the club to a 9-3-2 record when he was in the starting XI. According to Crew SC, only one other MLS player recorded more attempted or completed passes during that span, and Trapp registered an 88.6% passing accuracy rate from July 15 to Oct. 25.
Valeri suffered a devastating ACL tear in the Timbers’ 2014 season finale on Oct. 25. Like Trapp, Valeri wasted little time reasserting himself as a blue chip player, netting the game-winning goal in his first start back on May 9. For the regular season, the Argentine midfielder logged 1,713 minutes in 22 appearances, adding eight assists and two goals.
Valeri suffered a devastating ACL tear in the Timbers’ 2014 season finale on Oct. 25. Like Trapp, Valeri wasted little time reasserting himself as a blue chip player, netting the game-winning goal in his first start back on May 9. For the regular season, the Argentine midfielder logged 1,713 minutes in 22 appearances, adding eight assists and two goals.
By: Editor
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