Photo by Nick Turchiaro/ USA Today Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

Toronto FC rookie defender Nick Hagglund stepped up in a must-win game for his club.

The rookie defender scored a pair of goals, the first two of his MLS career, as TFC topped the Portland Timbers, 3-2, Saturday to keep the club’s playoff hopes alive. Hagglund’s performance earned him the honor of SBI MLS Rookie of the Week.

After a rough first half that saw TFC go down 2-0, Hagglund scored a pair of headers within 10 minutes to lead TFC right back into the game. Hagglund’s 70th minute equalizer paved the way for Michael Bradley’s winner with just minutes remaining,

Hagglund beat out D.C. United’s Steve Birnbaum and Houston’s A.J. Cochran for this week’s honors.

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What did you think of Hagglund’s performance? Which rookie impressed you in MLS Week 30?

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