This award goes to the best assist served up by a U.S. National Team player in an international match played this year. This award will be judged on technical merit alone, as opposed to the importance of the match in which it took place.
Click the 'Vote' button below to launch the video player and vote. All the assists are part of one continuous video.
THE FINALISTS:
Justin Mapp vs. Denmark – Jan. 20 @ The HDC
JUSTIN MAPP creates the game-winning goal with an impressive dribbling run on the right edge of the penalty area where he splits two defenders and then slots a pass to a crashing Jonathan Bornstein.
Brian Ching vs. Ecuador – March 28 @ Tampa
BRIAN CHING sets up the game-winning goal with a fantastic through ball to Landon Donovan. With his back to goal, Ching collects the ball near the midfield stripe, smartly turns and slips the ball behind the defense to slingshot Donovan on the breakaway.
Carli Lloyd vs. Canada – May 12 @ Frisco
CARLI LLOYD ties up the Canadian defender’s feet with a little “stop-go” move down the right flank, then finds the seam perfectly from the end line to the sprinting Kristine Lilly, who slams the ball home.
Sacha Kljestan vs. China – June 2 @ San Jose
SACHA KLJESTAN earns his first point in this first cap with one touch from the right sideline, as he chips the ball into space for Benny Feilhaber to run onto and chip over the ‘keeper and into the goal.
Taylor Twellman vs. Paraguay – July 2 @ Barinas
Down 1-0, TAYLOR TWELLMAN stretches out to get his leg to a cross and direct it backwards, perfectly into Ricardo Clark’s path so he could drill a low shot from 18 yards out.
Sal Zizzo vs. Poland – July 3 @ Montreal
Stealing a ball in the USA’s defensive half, SAL ZIZZO goes on a staggering half-field sprint, outracing two defenders and slipping by a third then picking out Freddy Adu who finished the chance from top of the area.
Freddy Adu vs. Brazil – July 6 @ Ottawa
Tied 1-1 late in the match, FREDDY ADU creates the game-winner with a jaw-dropping move. Trapped by two defenders in the corner, Adu flicks the ball past both Brazilians and darts into the area where he rips a shot that deflects off a defender directly to the wide-open Josmer Altidore for the finish.
Cat Whitehill vs. New Zealand - Aug. 12 @ Chicago
CAT WHITEHILL drops a perfect long ball over the restraining line, putting it just over the defense, but not close enough for the goalkeeper to make a play, and Abby Wambach executes a perfect diving header for the goal.
Steve Cherundolo vs. Brazil – Sept. 9 @ Chicago
With the U.S. trailing 2-1, STEVE CHERUNDOLO runs onto an overhead pass from Landon Donovan and races into the penalty area before smartly picking out Clint Dempsey for his one-timer into the lower left corner.
Kristine Lilly vs. Sweden -- Sept. 14 @ Chengdu, China
KRISTINE LILLY gains control on the left flank and spies Wambach making a run into the penalty area. She sends a perfectly placed and weighted pass in the air to the U.S. striker, who brings it down on her chest before lashing a venomous half-volley for the goal.
