The Montreal Impact are back in the driver's seat in the Eastern Conference, and their recent hot streak has come almost entirely at the feet of Marco Di Vaio.
The Italian DP netted a pair of goals on New England on Sunday, his third brace in four games, and his classy performance at Gillette Stadium earned him MLS Player of the Week honors for Week 26. (See how the North American Soccer Reporters voted here.)
Montreal's 4-2 win over the Revolution also saw them re-take first place in East, even on points with Sporting KC and New York. The Impact, however, have two games in hand on both teams.
In the process, Di Vaio also surged back ahead in the Golden Boot race again, with goals No. 16 and 17. He is now two ahead of Chicago's Mike Magee.
The Player of the Week honors are the 37-year-old striker's second of the season; he also claimed the vote in Week 13.
2013 MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Week 26: Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact)
Week 25: Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Week 24: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)
Week 23: Lloyd Sam (New York Red Bulls)
Week 22: Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake)
Week 21: Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)
Week 20: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Week 19: Brad Knighton (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Week 18: Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes)
Week 17: Camilo (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Week 16: Kenny Miller (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Week 15: Olmes García (Real Salt Lake)
Week 14: Diego Fagundez (New England Revolution)
Week 13: Marco Di Vaio (Montreal Impact)
Week 12: Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)
Week 11: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo)
Week 10: Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
Week 9: Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls)
Week 8: Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union)
Week 7: Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo)
Week 6: Ryan Johnson (Portland Timbers)
Week 5: Will Johnson (Portland Timbers)
Week 4: Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA)
Week 3: Bill Hamid (D.C. United)
Week 2: Robert Earnshaw (Toronto FC)
Week 1: Mike Magee (LA Galaxy)
