PLAYER OF THE WEEK | Minnesota United Forward Christian Ramirez
After scoring a late goal that gave Minnesota United its first ever victory over the New York Cosmos, Loons forward Christian Ramirez has been named NASL Player of the Week.
With the match still scoreless in the 90th minute, the 25-year-old forward settled a long ball over the top from teammate Justin Davis and slid a shot past Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer to give 10-man Minnesota a 1-0 victory at NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn., on Saturday.
"I was able to do what the team needed me to do, being down a man in the second half,” Ramirez said. “It's always nice to come up with a goal in that type of environment against a team that we've historically struggled against. Those three points were massive because we were tied with them in points in the standings, so that put us one step closer to our Spring Season goal."
Ramirez was active all game long, getting off four shots and serving as an overall nuisance for the Cosmos’ back line. With Minnesota down a man after Damion Lowe’s red card early in the second half, the Santa Ana, Calif., native did a little bit of everything for his side before finding the net in the dying moments.
"I think what a lot of people fail to recognize with Christian is not only does he score goals, but he's 100 percent out there for the team,” Minnesota head coach Carl Craig said. “You saw right towards the end, defending the right back spot - essentially that sums up who he is as a footballer. He loves to score the goals, but he does all the other stuff as well."
The winner of the NASL’s Golden Boot award in 2014, Ramirez now has three goals in four matches this year – a total that puts him tied for the league lead with Miami’s Dario Cvitanich and Carolina’s Austin da Luz. Saturday night’s win over the Cosmos – their first in nine tries - vaulted the Loons into sole possession of second place in the Spring Season Standings.
Ramirez has starred for Minnesota since signing with the club prior to the 2014 season. The 6-foot-2 forward was the league’s top scorer in 2014 with 20 goals, and he followed up that banner campaign by netting another 13 goals last season. He is the club’s all-time leading scorer.
Second-place Minnesota is idle this weekend before returning to action on Saturday, May 7, at TD Place in Ottawa.
