Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum is one of five nominees for MLS Save of the Week for Week 26, Major League Soccer announced on Monday. Voting is open until 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday via MLSsoccer.com.
- Andy Gruenebaum (Sporting KC)
- Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
- Jon Busch (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Joe Bendik (Toronto FC)
- Dan Kennedy (Chivas USA)
After missing the previous three matches with a shoulder injury, Gruenebaum returned to the lineup in New England and made four saves in the mid-week match. His best of the bunch came at the 86-minute mark, diving strong to his right to deny Revolution rookie Patrick Mullins from long distance.
Gruenebaum -- who at age 31 is the oldest player to appear for Sporting KC this season -- has made eight starts (4-3-1) during the 2014 MLS campaign, recording 20 saves on 31 shots faced for a 1.60 goals against average. The Overland Park, Kansas native also started each of the club's two matches in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Gruenebaum was a Save of the Week finalist in Week 21 and could become the third different Sporting KC goalkeeper to win the weekly award in 2014. Eric Kronberg took home the honor in Week 9, while homegrown goalkeeper Jon Kempin earned the recognition in back-to-back weeks last month (Weeks 22 and 23).
