<a href="http://www.portlandtimbers.com/search/apachesolr_search?keys=steve+zakuani&op=go">Steve Zakuani News</a><br>
ACQUIRED: Selected in Stage 1 of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Process
An MLS veteran, Steve Zakuani joins the Timbers after five seasons with Seattle Sounders FC from 2009-13. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, he appeared in 80 regular-season matches, recording 17 goals and 14 assists during his first five seasons in the league. Zakuani played two standout collegiate seasons at the University of Akron, where he led the nation in scoring as a sophomore and was the runner-up for the Hermann Trophy in 2008.
2014: Registered an assist on Aug. 24 against Seattle ... Tallied the first goal in Timbers CONCACAF Champions League history in a 4-1 win over Alpha United FC on Aug. 19, the goal was his first in a Timbers uniform in all competitions ... Started back-to-back matches (July 13-18) ... Logged 43 minutes in a 3-1 loss in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on July 9 at Seattle ... Played 64 minutes in a 3-1 win over Sporting KC in the U.S. Open Cup on June 24 ... Earned an assist in consecutive games May 17-24 ... Tallied his first Timbers assist on May 17 against Columbus ... Made a substitute appearance April 5 in a draw against Seattle ... Started his first match with the Timbers on March 22 at Colorado and played 65 minutes ... It was his first MLS start since April 30, 2013, with Seattle also at Colorado ... Played 29 minutes as a sub March 16 in a 1-1 draw against Chicago ... Made his Timbers debut March 8, coming on as a sub for the final five minutes against Philadelphia.
2013: Appeared in eight regular-season matches, making six starts … Logged an assist in a 1-1 draw against Portland on March 16 … Appeared in three matches during the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League, recording an assist in a 3-1 win vs. Mexican club Tigres UANL on March 12 … Missed a majority of the season due to injuries.
2012: Overcame a fractured right tibia and fibula during the 2011 season, making his first MLS appearance for Seattle Sounders FC in 14 months on Sept. 7 vs. Colorado … In his first start of the season Sept. 9, assisted on the go-ahead goal in a 1-1 draw at FC Dallas … In total, made eight regular-season appearances (4 starts) … Scored in a 2-1 loss vs. San Jose on Sept. 22 … Logged 250 minutes over four games (3 starts) in the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL), recording one goal and one assist … Tallied his first career CCL goal Oct. 24 vs. Marathon … Appeared in three MLS Cup Playoff games, including both matches against the LA Galaxy in the Western Conference Championship.
2011: Played in just six regular-season games for Seattle before suffering a fractured right tibia and fibula at Colorado on April 22 … Opened the campaign strong, recording a goal (2) or an assist (2) in four consecutive games March 25-April 16 … Notched the equalizer in the 80th minute of a 1-1 draw vs. Houston on March 25 … Scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory April 19 against Chicago … Recorded assists in draws at San Jose on April 2 and at Philadelphia on April 16 … Was twice named to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week.
2010: Appeared in 29 league matches (27 starts) for Sounders FC, establishing career-highs with 10 goals and six assists … Finished the regular season as the club co-leader in goals, two of which were named MLS Goal of the Week (Weeks 27, 29) … Totaled four game-winning assists and one game-winning goal during the campaign … Was twice named the MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR); first in Week 17 following a brace against Colorado on July 25 and then in Week 29 for a one-goal, one-assist performance in a 2-1 victory against Chivas USA on Oct. 15 … Scored in the fourth minute of a 1-1 draw against Columbus on May 1 … Featured in both of the club’s MLS Cup Playoff matches and scored his first career postseason goal in a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy in Leg 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Nov. 7 … Added three assists during play in the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, helping the club to a second straight U.S. Open Cup title … Started two of his three appearances in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League … In total, appeared in 37 matches across all competitions.
2009: Selected with the No. 1 overall pick by Seattle in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and was a dynamic contributor in his first professional season … Appeared in 29 league games (24 starts), recording four goals and four assists … Named a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year after leading all MLS rookies in both goals and assists … Finished fourth among the club’s leaders in scoring with 12 points … Notched his first MLS goal April 4, aiding the club’s first-ever road win – a 2-0 victory at Toronto FC … First MLS assist set up the game-winning goal in a 2-0 result vs. Real Salt Lake on March 28 … His goal Sept. 12 in a 2-1 road win at D.C. United was named the MLS Goal of the Week … Featured in both of the club’s MLS Cup Playoff matches against Houston … Appeared in four games (3 starts) during the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, aiding in the club’s run to the tournament championship … Recorded the game-winning assist in extra time of a 2-1 win against Houston in the semifinal on July 21.
COLLEGE: Played two standout collegiate seasons at the University of Akron … Led the nation in scoring as a sophomore in 2008 with 20 goals and 47 points over 23 games during the campaign … Was the runner-up for the 2008 Hermann Trophy … Earned numerous accolades in his final collegiate season in 2008: Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Year, an NSCAA/adidas All-America and All-Great Lakes Region First Team honoree, was a Soccer America First Team All-American, College Soccer News First Team All-American and the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year … Became the first Akron player and just the second sophomore overall to be named Soccer America Player of the Year … Registered two hat tricks in his sophomore season against Northern Illinois and Wright State … Awarded the MAC Newcomer of the Year following his freshman season in 2007, after leading the Zips in goal-scoring with six goals … Was also a first team All-MAC and first team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region performer in his first collegiate season … Helped lead Akron to back-to-back MAC regular-season and tournament titles in 2007 and 2008 and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.
PERSONAL: Was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to London, England at the age of four … Played in the academy of EPL club Arsenal FC from 1997-2002, starting at the age of nine … Played at the Independent Football Academy in London from 2004-07 … Is one of six children in his family, and brother, Gabriel, plays for Peterborough United FC in England’s League One … Enjoys reading and watching African comedies in his spare time.