PORTLAND, Ore. –
United Soccer Leagues today announced that Portland Timbers forward
Mandjou Keita
is one of two finalists for the USL First Division Most Valuable Player award.
Keita, 29, was voted to the All-League First Team and was recognized as the USL First Division Scoring Champion with a league-high 29 points this season. His 11 goals and seven assists during the campaign aided in the team’s Commissioner’s Cup-winning season and paced a Timbers side that scored a league-best 45 goals in 2009.
In his first season with the Timbers, the Guinea native totaled 2,230 minutes in 29 games (28 starts). Keita’s goal total was tied for second in the league, and he ranked third in both assists and shots (71). He was a three-time USL First Division Player of the Week selection and voted by Timbers fans as the club’s 2009 Supporters Player of the Year.
Joining Keita as a finalist for the league’s MVP honor is Puerto Rico Islanders defender
Cristian Arrieta
. The recipient will be announced Friday, Oct. 16, at the USL First Division championship banquet.
