Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 12 after racking up two goals and an assist in his club's 6-1 blowout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
Valeri fueled a dominant road result for the Timbers with the ninth regular season multi-goal performance of his MLS career, starting in the 25th minute when he converted a penalty kick following a handball in the penalty box on Shea Salinas.
Valeri struck again in the 57th minute, as Diego Chara sent a pass to the top of the box, that the Argentine maestro ran onto before uncorking a right-footed shot that deflected off two San Jose defenders before settling into the back of the net.
Valeri capped it off with an assist as Portland continued their onslaught deep into the second half, sending in a pinpoint corner kick that was headed home by defender Julio Cascante to extend the lead to 5-1. He now has six goals and five assists in the 2020 regular season, each mark tied for sixth-most in the league, while his combined 11 goals and assists are tied for fifth-most.
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.
