- Keith Hickey

There were a number of standout performers in this opening week of the 2011 Major League Soccer season, but no player's contributions will have been greeted with as much excitement from as many disparate sources as Charlie Davies's double against Columbus.

Davies's hopes for rehabilitation from the injury he suffered in the autumn of 2009 are intertwined with the aspirations of a once-dominant club that has failed to qualify for the playoffs for three years running. While Davies is not yet the player he was before his collision, and DC are no longer the juggernaut that won five trophies in four years, it's certainly a statement of intent to begin so well.

Honorable mentions:
Omar Bravo, Sporting KC
Danny Califf, Philadelphia Union
Juninho, LA Galaxy
Eric Hassli, Vancouver Whitecaps