VANCOUVER, BC - Major League Soccer (MLS) announced today that Vancouver Whitecaps FC striker Camilo Sanvezzo has been named the league's Player of the Week for Week 20. The striker, who leads MLS in goals scored with 12, won the award in the wake of another impressive performance in which he notched two goals in a 3-1 victory over Chicago Fire on Sunday. This follows the announcement of his selection to the 2013 MLS All-Star Game roster earlier on Monday.
The red hot Brazilian is the first player this season to receive the award twice while overall, this makes it Vancouver’s fourth Player of the Week in the last five weeks. After Kenny Miller won the award in Week 16, Camilo’s first award of the season came in Week 17 and was followed by Brad Knighton collecting the prize in Week 19.
After a slow first half, Camilo sparked the game against Fire into life with two well-taken goals. First up was an MLS Goal of the Week nominee as the Brazilian expertly collected a long ball from goalkeeper Knighton before setting off on a mazy run towards goal. He then turned defender Shaun Francis inside-out before finishing cooly beyond Fire 'keeper Paolo Tornaghi.
The goal carried extra significance for the team as it was Vancouver’s 100th goal in MLS play with Knighton’s punt upfield also representing the team’s 100th assist in MLS.
The in-form attacker then added a second soon after having been played through by Kekuta Manneh. Camilo showed persistence after being foiled by Tornaghi and eventually squeezed a shot through a crowded area and into the net.
Prior to the current campaign, the only previous Player of the Week award for a Whitecaps FC player was when Camilo won Player of the Week in Week 3 of the 2011 season. The 5-foot-7 striker was handed the award following a two goal, one assist performance against Sporting Kansas City at Empire Field during Vancouver's inaugural MLS campaign.
Next up for the Blue and White is a trip to California to take on two-time defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy. Kickoff this coming Saturday, July 20, is at 7:30 p.m. PT at the StubHub Center and will be broadcast live on Sportsnet Pacific and City. Fans can also listen on TEAM 1410 radio and teamradio.ca.
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 soccerreporters.com.
