K.C.’s Melia voted MLS Comeback Player of Year

Tim-Melia;-Sporting-Kansas-City;-Vancouver-Whitecaps;-MLS

Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia makes a save against the Vancouver Whitecaps. (Darryl Dyck/CP)

NEW YORK — Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia has been voted Major League Soccer’s Comeback Player of the Year.

The 29-year-old did not appear in any league matches while with Real Salt Lake from 2010-11, then played in six matches with Chivas USA from 2012 until he was waived on July 10, 2014, with a career record of 0-4-1.

Signed by Sporting Kansas City as a backup to Luis Marin, Chile’s starter at the 2010 World Cup, Melia started the team’s ninth league match this season and won the job. He had shutouts in six of his first nine starts and wound up starting 23 league games.

Melisa received 57 per cent of a possible 300 per cent in weighted ballots added from team, media and player votes, the league said Wednesday. Portland midfielder Diego Valeri was second with 52 per cent and Columbus midfielder Wil Trapp third with 37 per cent.

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