The Portland Timbers are all but in the MLS Cup Playoffs after a sensational 5-2 victory against the LA Galaxy Sunday, and while the team as a whole proved efficient, one man stood out.
Fanendo Adi scored the Timbers first goal at the StubHub Center and tallied his second less than three minutes later. The performance helped spark a Timbers rout of the Galaxy and earned him recognition as SBI MLS Player of the Week.
Adi’s first goal came in the 65th minute, and despite initially having his back to goal, the 25-year-old Nigerian striker was able to put enough force behind his blast inside the box to beat goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
He would best Ricketts again in just the 67th minute, this time from the penalty spot. Adi earned the penalty after being taken down near the six-yard box, and the Timbers forward stepped up and beat the Galaxy goalkeeper, despite the Jamaican international diving the correct way.
The forward also claimed an assist on the Timbers’ third goal of the day, as he fed Rodney Wallace, who sent a cross towards the center of the box where Diego Chara headed in the goal.
Adi beat out FC Dallas’ Mauro Diaz, the New York Red Bulls’ Mike Grella and the Columbus Crew’s Federico Higuaín for this week’s honors as SBI MLS Player of the Week.
What did you think of Adi’s performance against the Galaxy? Who stood out the most to you this weekend in MLS?
Share your thoughts below.
Timbers supporters don’t like Adi because “he doesn’t score enough… only scores in braces… ” He should be their POTY but they’ll vote for the guy with the beard, because beard.
Heading into this game I thought “wow, this guy Adi has scored pretty much every single goal for the Timbers this season. All you gotta do is shut him down and the Timbers will be dead in the water (that’s a logging pun, ICYMI). The Galaxy have Omar Gonzalez and the best defense in the league. Should be no problem. Right?
Heading out of this game I thought “Galaxy is in big trouble.”