VANCOUVER, BC – Major League Soccer announced today that Vancouver Whitecaps FC winger/striker Sebastián Fernández has been named the league’s Player of the Week for Week 30.
The Uruguayan earned the weekly award, as voted by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR), after bagging a first-half brace in Vancouver’s 2-0 win over FC Dallas. Fernández is the first Whitecaps FC player to win MLS Player of the Week this season.
Fernandez's first goal has also been nominated for MLS Goal of the Week. Vote now!
“It was a terrific performance from the kid,” Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson told reporters after the match. “He was a threat all game. His little movement patterns, his positional sense and getting into areas and causing problems for them was evident throughout the game.”
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<b>WATCH: Fernandez's first goal in slow motion</b> |
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<b>WATCH: Fernandez's second goal in slow motion</b> |
Fernández opened the scoring in the 14th minute. After a period of build-up play from the 'Caps, the ball was played out right to midfielder Mauro Rosales who sent a first-time cross into the box that was met with a header by Fernández. The precision ball squeezed into the top left corner with little space for the opposing goalkeeper to get a hand on it.
Four minutes later, Fernández got his second goal to put Whitecaps FC ahead 2-0. After stealing the ball near the midfield line, Rosales countered through wide open space finding on oncoming Fernández. Controlling the ball in the penalty area with one touch, Fernández measured his shot powering it in at the near post.
The 24-year-old, who has appeared in all but one of Vancouver’s MLS regular season matches this season, now has five goals on the season. Three of those tallies have been game-winners, which is tied with Pedro Morales for the most on the team.
Whitecaps FC continue their push for the playoffs on Friday, when they visit first-place Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field (7 p.m. PT, TSN1) – Fernández won’t be available due to caution accumulation.
As it stands, the ‘Caps occupy the fifth and final playoff position in the Western Conference with 43 points – one point up on sixth-place Portland Timbers. Both teams have three matches remaining.
Friday’s match against Seattle will also determine the 2014 Cascadia Cup champion. Whitecaps FC need a win to successfully defend their title, as any other result would see Seattle lift the trophy.
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