FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: MLS Communications
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212) 450-1408
Columbus Crew SC midfielder Justin Meram voted Alcatel MLS Player of the Week
NEW YORK
(Tuesday, May 16, 2017)
– Columbus Crew SC midfielder Justin Meram was voted the Alcatel MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 11
th
week of the 2017 MLS season.
Meram recorded his first career hat trick, and the 11
th
ever in Crew SC history, in a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo on Saturday. The 28-year-old now sits tied for second in the Golden Boot standings with seven goals scored this season, already surpassing his 2016 total and sitting one goal shy of equaling his career-high. After recording one multi-goal effort in his previous six seasons, Meram now has two such performances in 2017. After the victory, Columbus sits tied for second in the Eastern Conference standings with 19 points (6-5-1 record).
Following a midweek 2-1 loss to Toronto FC, Columbus quickly found its groove against Montreal, with Meram giving the team a 1-0 lead in the 14
th
minute when he recovered his own deflected pass and fired a right-footed shot from just outside the box into the bottom left corner of the goal (
Watch Goal
). The Iraq National Team player would push Crew SC to a 2-0 advantage in the 28
th
minute, showing deft touch in the box to avoid a charging Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush and set up an easy right-footed flick to the bottom left corner (
Watch Goal
).
Meram completed his hat trick in the 91
st
minute, scoring the game-winner with a right-footed shot far post to complete Crew SC’s 3-2 victory (
Watch Goal
). With the goal, Meram became the third player in league history to complete a hat trick with a game-winning goal after the 90
th
minute.
Columbus Crew SC returns to action on Sunday, May 21 when facing the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium (2:30 p.m. 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.
