Fire selects defender Anibaba in MLS draft

By Jack McCarthy

The Fire went with defense Thursday, picking top-rated Jalil Anibaba in the first round of the Major League Soccer draft in Baltimore.

Anibaba, a 22-year-old North Carolina defender, was a second-team All-American and first-team Atlantic Coast Conference pick. He was the draft's No. 9 overall selection.

Still to come for the Fire is a second-round opportunity and three spots in the third.
The league's two expansion teams had the draft's first picks. With the No. 1 selection, Vancouver tabbed 17-year-old Omar Salgado, a forward and member of the Under-20 U.S. National team.

Portland picked Akron midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe, winner of the 2010 Hermann Trophy as the nation's top soccer player.

Two more players from Akron -- the NCAA Division I champs -- went third and fourth. D.C. United drafted Zips midfielder Perry Kitchen while defender Zarek Valentin went to Chivas USA.

All told, five of the first eight picks came from Akron.

Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/01/fire-nabs-defender-anibaba-in-mls-superdraft.html

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