Houston Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 29th week of the 2016 MLS season.
The 21-year-old scored a hat trick to lead the Dynamo to an impressive 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday. The hat trick was the first of Manotas' MLS career and the sixth in Dynamo franchise history. Manotas is the youngest player in MLS to record a hat trick this year and the youngest in Dynamo history to accomplish the feat.
He is the second Dynamo player to win the award this season. Midfielder Andrew Wenger was named MLS Player of the Week for his two goal, two assist performance in Houston’s 5-0 win over FC Dallas on March 12. Manotas has four goals and one assist in his last six starts for Houston with the club compiling a 3-1-2 record in that time span.
Manotas opened up his account with a penalty kick goal in the 34th minute to give Houston a 1-0 lead (Watch Goal). After Portland equalized early in the second half, the Colombia native added his second of the night in the 73rd minute with a skilled left-footed strike from the center of the box for a 2-1 advantage (Watch Goal). The goal is one of eight nominated for AT&T Goal of the Week (VOTE).
Manotas would complete his hat trick in the 85th minute to give the home side a crucial 3-1 win over the reigning MLS Cup champions. Manotas received a perfect pass from Cristián Maidana in behind the back line and coolly finished past Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson (Watch Goal).
Houston next welcomes New York City FC to BBVA Compass Stadium in Viernes de Fútbol action on September 30 (7 p.m. CT, UniMás).
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.
