PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers forward Fanendo Adi was named Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 14 of the 2014 MLS season, it was announced today.
Adi, 23, became the first Timbers MLS player to record two braces in a single season with two first-half goals Saturday in a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. Adi has registered at least one point in three consecutive matches and he has tallied four goals in the last three games.
The win marked Portland’s third consecutive road victory and the team’s first win at Rio Tinto Stadium in four MLS seasons. The Timbers have captured at least one point in seven of their last eight games and rank tied for second in the league with 26 goals scored on the season
Down a goal Saturday at Real Salt Lake, Adi recorded the equalizer in the 36th minute, heading the ball into the right side of the net off a well-placed corner kick by midfielder Diego Valeri, who leads MLS with eight assists.
In the 45th minute, Adi registered the game-winning goal on a quick counter-attack by the Timbers. Midfielder Gastón Fernández found midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe inside the box as he released a shot forcing Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Jeff Attinella to his right to make the save, but the rebound dropped to Adi, who finished in front of the net to give Portland a 2-1 lead.
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. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.
The Timbers play host to FC Dallas on Wednesday at Providence Park at 7 p.m. (Pacific) on ESPN2, with a local radio broadcast available on 750 The Game.
