Two MLS games played. Two MLS Save of the Week nominations.
One week after winning the award for his penalty kick stop in Vancouver, Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jon Kempin is once again a finalist in Week 23 for his stop on Gilberto's breakaway in Saturday's 4-1 win over Toronto FC. Voting runs online at MLSsoccer.com until 11:59 p.m. PT on Thursday.
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The 21-year-old Kempin became the youngest goalkeeper to start an MLS match in club history on Saturday with his first MLS start and made two saves in the victory. The best of the two came in the 51st minute when Gilberto raced toward net on a 60-yard run and only had Kempin to beat in order to pull Toronto FC level.
Kempin came well off his line to cut down the angle in the one-versus-one situation and deflected away the ensuing shot from the Brazilian Designated Player, who had already scored on a Goal of the Week-worthy backheel flick earlier in the night.
"At halftime, Benny (Feilhaber) told me I would have to make one big save to help the team get three points," Kempin said. "As (Gilberto) was coming at me, all I could think about was what Benny told me. Fortunately, I made the stop."
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes singled out the play during his postgame press conference on Saturday, noting its importance at a critical juncture in a win that propelled Sporting KC back atop the Supporters' Shield standings.
"That save kept us in the game," Peter Vermes said. "If he doesn't (make the save), it goes 2-2 and that really changes the momentum of the game. That was a huge save by him and he did very well."
Vermes -- who signed Kempin as the team's first homegrown player four years ago -- wasn't the only member of the club praising Kempin's play postgame.
"I think Kempin did fantastically well in his first start," said Dom Dwyer.
"He was great. He saved us big time on a couple different plays. They had a breakaway in the second half and he kept us ahead. It's great to see him have this success because I've seen him work hard every day since I became a player here," said C.J. Sapong.
Kempin's save is one of five finalists alongside Andre Blake (PHI), Sean Johnson (CHI), Bobby Shuttleworth (NE) and Bill Hamid (DC).
