FRISCO, Texas (Monday, Aug. 18, 2014) – FC Dallas rookie Tesho Akindele has been named Major League Soccer Player of the Week after netting a hat trick in the team’s 5-0 win at San Jose on Saturday.
It’s the first hat trick and the first Player of the Week honor for the Rookie of the Year frontrunner and seventh hat trick by a rookie in MLS history.
READ: Behind the numbers of FCD's historic 5-0 win in San Jose
Akindele scored his first goal of the night right before the break off a simple pass from Fabian Castillo, who also had a banner night. The young forward turned his defender and got off a shot that ‘megged an Earthquakes defender before deflecting off the inside of the post and into the back of the net. The goal marked his fifth of the season and tied him with Aleskey Korol (2000) for the franchise record in goals scored by a rookie. However, Akindele wasn’t done yet, scoring in the 58th and 86th minutes to complete the hat trick.
Get your tickets to see FCD take on first-place Real Salt Lake on Friday night at Toyota Stadium!
Akindele now has seven goals in just 16 games (13 starts) on the season.
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/
