Chicago Fire playmaker Shaun Maloney has been voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the fifth week of the 2015 MLS season.
After missing the Fire’s 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union because of international duty with Scotland, Maloney returned to record his first MLS goal and assist in Chicago’s 3-2 comeback win over Toronto FC at Toyota Park on Saturday.
Maloney showcased a bit of magic to help the Fire take the lead over Toronto in the 14th minute, laying a clever backheel into Joevin Jones' path as the winger beat TFC goalkeeper Joe Bendik with a left-footed strike.
After going down 2-1 in the 54th minute, the Scottish Designated Player responded immediately, leveling the match two minutes later. Chicago Homegrown midfielder Harry Shipp found Maloney on the left side of the penalty area, and the Scotsman produced a flurry of stepovers before cutting inside and sending a shot through traffic that snuck past Bendik.
The Men in Red would go on to grab all three points in the 68th minute when Jeff Larentowicz’s dipping free kick found the back of the net to make it 3-2.
After a bye week, the Fire will return to action on April 18 at Stade Saputo against the Montreal Impact (3 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
