Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton was named Major League Soccer’s Comeback Player of the Year today, adding another trophy to his 2009 collection after being named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year last week. The 36 year-old goalkeeper from Edgewood, Md., led Chivas USA to its fourth consecutive playoff berth in 2009 and had the top mark in MLS in both shutouts and goals against average.

Thornton earned the Comeback Player of the Year award due to his strong play throughout 2009 after enduring two difficult seasons in 2007 and 2008. He led Chivas USA to a 13-11-6 record and posted a career best 12 shutouts and 0.87 goals against average, which ranks second all-time in MLS history behind Pat Onstad’s 0.82 mark in 2007. His 12 shutouts were one shy of the Chivas USA record, set in 2007 by Brad Guzan, who also earned Goalkeeper of the Year honors in that season. In being named Goalkeeper of the Year last week, Thornton became one of just three players to win the award twice, joining Joe Cannon and Pat Onstad.

Photos: Juan Miranda/Chivas USA

Preki, Justin Braun, Carey Talley and Jonathan Bornstein react to Chivas USA’s season-ending 1-0 loss to the rival Galaxy.

Head Coach Preki

Defender Shavar Thomas

Defender Jonathan Bornstein

Forward Justin Braun

Below is a video with Zach Thornton with his thoughts on winning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. Full information can be found here.

El arquero de Chivas USA, Zach Thornton, quien lideró la Major League Soccer en partidos sin aceptar gol y en promedio de goles en contra, fue nombrado hoy el Portero del Año de la MLS en la temporada 2009. El premio, determinado por los medios de comunicación, así como jugadores de la MLS, entrenadores, gerente generales de los equipos y réferis, es otorgado al espigado guardameta rojiblanco, quien gana de esta manera el premio al Portero del Año por segunda ocasión en su carrera, 11 años después de ganarlo por primera vez en la temporada 1998 con el Fire de Chicago.

Chivas USA goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who led Major League Soccer in shutouts and goals against average in 2009, was today named MLS’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the 2009 season. The award, determined by voting from the media as well as MLS players, coaches, general managers and referees, follows perhaps the best season in Thornton’s 13-year MLS career, including his 1998 campaign, when he won Goalkeeper of the Year with the Chicago Fire.

After Chivas USA and the LA Galaxy played to a 2-2 draw on Sunday at The Home Depot Center, the home-and-home, total goals series continues next Sunday, Aug. 8 at 4:30 p.m. PT in what is an away game for Chivas USA. The second Playoff Super Clásico will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, with the winner going on to the Western Conference championship match against the winner of the Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo series. If Sundays game ends in a draw, a 30 minute overtime will be played, followed by a penalty kick shootout if the deadlock remains.

Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein and goalkeeper Zach Thornton preview Sunday’s second leg of the playoff Super Clásico.

Chivas USA y el Galaxy de LA empataron 2-2 el domingo en El Home Depot Center, en una serie de ida y vuelta que continúa el domingo, 8 de noviembre, a las 4:30 p.m. PT. El segundo partido del Súper Clásico de la Liguilla será televisado en vivo por ESPN2 y ESPN Deportes; el ganador disputará el campeonato de la Conferencia del Oeste ante el ganador de la serie entre el Sounders de Seattle y el Dynamo de Houston. Sí el partido del domingo termina en un empate, habrán dos tiempos extras de 15 minutos, y de persistir el empate, habrá tiros desde el punto de penalti.

El delantero de Chivas USA, Maykel Galindo, y el mediocampista, Marcelo Saragosa, hablan sobre el Súper Clasico el domingo.