The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) have voted LA Galaxy Forward Zlatan Ibrahimović their Alcatel MLS Player of the Week, the team and league announced on Tuesday.
Ibrahimović, who landed in Los Angeles less than 39 hours before the match, played a total of 19 minutes, recording two shots, two shots on goal, and two goals – scoring both the game-tying and game-winning goals in the Galaxy’s 4-3 come-from-behind victory over in-city rivals, Los Angeles FC.
The 6-foot-5 striker entered into the match in the 71-minute for Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget. He then went on to score from 40-yards out to tie the game on an assist from Daniel Steres and headed in the game-winner in the first minute of stoppage time on a cross from Ashley Cole.
Ibrahimović sits 14th in scoring in the league after his brace and currently leads the Galaxy in goals in the 2018 season. He also became one of only three players in league history to score two goals in his debut off the bench.
Additionally, the Galaxy became only the second team in league history to win a game after being down by three goals.
This is the Galaxy’s first MLS Player of the Week award since Giovani dos Santos won it in September of 2016 for scoring four goals and earning three assists in two matches (Week 27).
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men’s soccer in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the NASR and apply to join at https://www.facebook.com/soccerreporters/.
The Galaxy will host Sporting Kansas City, currently first in the Western Conference, on Sunday at StubHub Center. The game will kickoff at 6 p.m. PT and be broadcast nationally on FS1.