Anibaba earns MLS Player of the Week

New York, NY – Chicago Fire defender Jalil Anibaba was named 2 victory over the Columbus Crew to close out the regular season.

Anibaba opened his account in the 11th minute by heading home a cross from Pavel Pardo, while he doubled his total before halftime by nodding a cross from Cory Gibbs past goalkeeper Will Hesmer.

Seattle's Jeff Parke is the only other defender to be named Player of the Week this season, while Anibaba's performance helped Chicago close out the season with seven wins from its last 10 games.

The MLS Player of the Week award is selected each week by the North American Soccer Reporters. The group consists of members of online, print, television, radio media. More information can be found at soccerreporters.com.

2011 MLS Player of the Week winners:

Week 1: Omar Bravo (Sporting Kansas City)

Week 2: Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake)

Week 3: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)

Week 4: David Ferreira (FC Dallas)

Week 5: Luke Rodgers (Red Bull New York)

Week 6: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 7: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)

Week 8: Joao Plata (Toronto FC)

Week 9: Justin Braun (Chivas USA)

Week 10: Jeff Parke (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 11: Justin Mapp (Philadelphia Union)

Week 12: Jean Alexandre (Real Salt Lake)

Week 13: Steven Lenhart (San Jose Earthquakes)

Week 14: Bernardo Anor (Columbus Crew)

Week 15: Mike Magee (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Week 16: Joel Lindpere (Red Bull New York)

Week 17: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 18: Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 19: Sanna Nyassi (Colorado Rapids)

Week 20: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)

Week 21: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)

Week 22: Chris Pontius (D.C. United)

Week 23: Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Week 24: Lamar Neagle (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 25/26: Charlie Davies (D.C. United)

Week 27: Danny Koevermans (Toronto FC)

Week 28: Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)

Week 29: Marco Pappa (Chicago Fire)

Week 30/31: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)

Week 32: Jalil Anibaba (Chicago Fire)