It's been Carlos Vela's year in MLS.
The league leader in both goals (19) and assists (12) had yet another doozy of a week, landing him his third Player of the Week honor this season. LAFC picked up two huge wins in Week 18 — 5-1 over Sporting KC then 6-1 over the Vancouver Whitecaps — and Vela was their talisman once again, picking up three goals and two assists along the way.
Vela's goal against SKC was a familiar dart into the side netting with his favored left foot from the right side of the 18-yard box while his first goal against Vancouver on Saturday followed the same script until a deflection took his shot to the near post. His third of the week, though, was a rare header for him.
LAFC are the runaway Supporters' Shield leaders, sitting seven points ahead of the Philadelphia Union with two games in hand.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
