New York Red Bulls forward Macoumba Kandji was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 8 after he had a hand in all four of the Red Bulls' goals in New York's 4-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes last Friday night at Giants Stadium. It is the first time that Kandji has earned Player of the Week honors in his career and he is the first Red Bull to win the award in 2009.

Kandji, 23, helped the Red Bulls gain the lead when he was fouled by Nick Garcia by the right sideline, leading to teammate Jorge Rojas' ensuing free kick goal in the seventh minute. Six minutes later, Kandji earned his second assist of the season when he flicked on a Carlos Johnson throw-in into Rojas' path and Rojas headed it in from close range. The Senegalese forward tallied his second assist of the match in the 22nd minute. After receiving the ball in San Jose's half from Albert Celades, Kandji took a touch before hitting a low cross that teammate Juan Pablo Angel one-timed into the back of the net.

Kandji rounded out the Red Bulls' scoring spree five minutes before halftime with a goal of his own. He dispossessed San Jose defender Kelly Gray in the back before racing towards goal and hitting a shot past San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon for his second goal of the season. The four goals scored in the opening 45 minutes set a club record for the most goals scored in a first half.