Landon Donovan stole the headlines, but LA Galaxy attacker Giovani dos Santos was the real star of Week 27.
The Mexican Designated Player vaulted the Galaxy into second place in the Supporters’ Shield standings with a huge week, totaling four goals and three assists in a 3-3 draw at Real Salt Lake and a 4-2 home win against Orlando City SC to move LA four points behind FC Dallas for the league lead.
The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) rewarded dos Santos for his efforts, voting him MLS Player of the Week for Week 27.
Dos Santos got his big week started on Wednesday night, playing a role in all three of LA’s goals in their draw at RSL.
He played provider on the first, slotting a deadly through ball behind the Salt Lake defense to winger Emmanuel Boateng, who raced past Jamison Olave and finished past Nick Rimando for a sixth-minute goal. Joao Plata pulled RSL level in the 53rd, but dos Santos re-took the lead for LA four minutes later, running onto a Baggio Husidic free kick in the left side of the box and hitting a half-volley past Rimando to put the Galaxy back ahead 2-1. Dos Santos made it 3-1 in the 64th, poking home a rebound after a Jeff Larentowicz effort hit the crossbar.
Dos Santos’ huge week continued on Sunday night against Orlando, when he played a part in all four LA goals. He cancelled out Kevin Molino’s opener, tapping home a Boateng cross to make it 1-1 in the 35th-minute. He assisted on Alan Gordon’s goal three minutes later, finding Jelle Van Damme in the left side of the area before the Belgian defender picked out Gordon at the top of the six. Dos Santos made it 3-1 by burying a penalty kick just before halftime, then assisted on LA’s final goal in the 70th minute, beating Joe Bendik to a Sebastian Lletget through ball and squaring to Robbie Keane to make it 4-1.
The huge week didn't just move LA within shouting distance of FCD for the Shield lead, it also powered dos Santos up the individual goal and assist rankings. He’s now tied for fourth in the league with 14 goals, four behind Bradley Wright-Phillips for the lead, and is tied for third in MLS with 11 assists, four behind Wright-Phillips' Red Bulls teammate, league leader Sacha Kljestan.
This is dos Santos’ second Player of the Week honor of the season. 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.
Dos Santos and the Galaxy will look to continue their hot streak Sunday when they take on Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park (2 pm ET; FOX, FOXSportsGo, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN in the US; MLS LIVE in Canada).
