NEW YORK (Tuesday, October 30, 2018) – Columbus Crew SC forward Gyasi Zardes was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 35th week of the 2018 MLS season.
In MLS Decision Day presented by AT&T action, Zardes scored his first ever MLS career hat trick to lead Columbus to a 3-2 victory over visiting Minnesota United FC at MAPFRE Stadium on Sunday. The victory secured Crew SC the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference for the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, as the club finished the season with 51 points (14-11-9 record). Zardes finished the year with a career-high 19 goals, tied for the fourth most of any player in the league this season.
Crew SC took an early 1-0 lead on a Zardes header from inside the box in the 11th minute off a corner kick set piece, finding the ball over a group of Loon defenders (Watch Goal). The U.S. Men’s National Team star scored his second goal in the 49th minute to give Columbus a 2-0 lead. A Crew SC free kick deflected off Minnesota goalkeeper Matt Lampson, with Zardes capitalizing on the mistake with a right-footed shot into the upper right corner of the net (Watch Goal).
Following a Minnesota comeback, Zardes scored the game-winning goal to complete his hat trick in the 83rd minute and secure the 3-2 Columbus victory. Niko Hansen sent a powerful cross into the box, where Zardes was waiting in traffic to finish with a right-footed shot (Watch Goal).
Columbus next plays in the Knockout Round of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs against D.C. United at Audi Field on Thursday, November 1 (8 p.m. ET, FS1 / UniMas / TVAS / TSN3).
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/.