Minnesota United's Abu Danladi runner-up for MLS rookie of the year

Minnesota United forward Abu Danladi finished second in voting for the MLS rookie of the year award, the league announced Wednesday.

Atlanta United midfielder Julian Gresel won the award with an average of 54 percent of the vote from media members, club representatives and players. Danladi had 16 percent, with Philadelphia’s Jack Elliott at 7.

Gressel, who was the eighth pick in the 2017 SuperDraft, had nine assists, third-most ever among MLS rookies. He added five goals and played in 32 of 34 regular-season games.

Danladi, the first pick in last year’s SuperDraft, had MLS rookie-bests of eight goals and four game-winning goals. After being slowed by a injuries, Danladi, 22, played in 26 matches overall and 14 straight games to end the season.

Born in Ghana and mostly raised in California before attending UCLA, Danaldi scored six goals in those 14 games from July 22-Oct. 22. One of his best was the game-winner in the 89th minute against Montreal on Sept. 16:

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