NEW YORK
(Tuesday, October 16, 2018)
– Los Angeles Football Club forward Carlos Vela was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 33
rd
week of the 2018 MLS season.
Vela registered two goals and two assists in LAFC’s 4-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo at Banc of California Stadium on Friday. The Mexican National Team star has produced 13 goals to go along with 12 assists this season, one of six players league wide to register double digits in each category. LAFC sits second in the Western Conference with 56 points (16-8-8 overall record), matching the MLS record for most points ever by an expansion team in its inaugural season.
Moments before halftime, Vela converted a penalty kick to bring LAFC even with Houston at 1-1 in the 44
th
minute (
Watch Goal
). LAFC took a 2-1 lead in the 53
rd
minute when Vela crossed the ball from the left flank to a waiting Adama Diomande directly in front of goal, who easily finished with a close-range strike (
Watch Assist
).
Vela notched his second assist to give LAFC a 3-1 lead in the 58
th
minute when sending a corner kick into the center of the box. Walker Zimmerman volleyed home a left-footed strike from near the penalty spot to the right side of goal (
Watch Assist
). The forward capped a tremendous night with a chip over goalkeeper Tyler Deric from the top of the box to give LAFC a 4-1 advantage in the 78
th
minute (
Watch Goal
). The performance was Vela’s third multi-goal game and first multi-assist game in his MLS career.
LAFC returns to action on Sunday, October 21 when hosting Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Banc of California Stadium (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+ / TSN 1 / TSN 4).
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the NASR and apply to join at
https://www.facebook.com/soccerreporters/
.
