PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for the 12th week of the 2020 MLS season, it was announced today.
Valeri registered two goals and an assist in Portland’s 6-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes at Earthquake Stadium on Sept. 19. During the 2020 MLS regular season, Valeri has tallied a team-leading six goals and five assists in 11 appearances (9 starts). In 15 appearances (12 starts) across all competitions for Portland in 2020, Valeri has posted seven goals and eight assists. Portland is tied for fourth in the Western Conference standings with 18 points (5-4-3 overall record).
The Argentine midfielder became the sixth player in MLS history to convert 20 penalties in regular-season play when he gave the Timbers the lead in the 25th minute (Watch Goal). Valeri tallied a brace, his ninth regular-season two-goal performance for the Timbers, in the 57th minute after his low strike from the top of the box flew into the net (Watch Goal). Valeri notched his fifth assist of the season on an in-swinging delivery from a corner kick that Julio Cascante headed into the back of the net in the 85th minute (Watch Assist).
The award marks Valeri’s fifth time winning MLS Player of the Week honors.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
Next up, Portland returns to Providence Park on Wednesday, Sept. 23 to square off against Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC. Beginning at 7 p.m. (Pacific), the match features a local television broadcast on FOX 12 PLUS (KPTV) with local radio broadcasts on 1029 and 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
