Jose Correa’s heroic efforts for Chivas USA in their dramatic 2-1 win over the Charlotte Eagles were enough to earn him TheCup.us Player of the Round award for the Quarterfinals. Correa scored both goals in the match, including the game-winner in second half stoppage time to send his club to the Semifinals for just the second time in the club’s relatively short history.
The 19-year-old Colombian forward becomes the first Chivas USA player to ever win the award which is voted on by the staff of TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.
Correa was voted the winner, with Zach Scott of the Seattle Sounders, CJ Sapong of Sporting Kansas City and Lionard Pajoy of the Philadelphia Union also receiving strong consideration.
The game was a breakout game for Correa, who has struggled to find a regular place in the Chivas starting eleven. After signing with the club in April, he scored in his first MLS start in 1-1 draw on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes. He started again the next game in the SuperClasico, scoring the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win over the Galaxy.
Two starts and two draws later, Correa had a four-game unbeaten streak with him in the starting lineup until he suffered a hamstring injury and missed three games before returning to the lineup against Charlotte. On July 7, he started again in league play against Vancouver in a scoreless draw extending his personal unbeaten streak to six games.
Another notable accomplishment for Correa is the fact that at age 19, he is the youngest player to ever be named Player of the Round since the award began in 2006.
2012 Player of the Round award winners
Round 1: Danny Barrera (Cal FC) [+]
Round 2: Danny Barrera (Cal FC) [+]
Round 3: Artur Aghasyan (Cal FC) [+]
Round 4: Sainey Touray (Harrisburg City Islanders) [+]
Quarterfinals: Jose Correa (Chivas USA)