PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri was voted MLS Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 1 of the 2017 MLS season, it was announced today.
In the Timbers’ opening match of the season, Valeri scored two second-half goals, while also recording an assist on the team’s opening finish of the game, helping to guide the Timbers to a 5-1 victory over Minnesota United FC, marking the team’s largest win in a season-opening match during its MLS era.
After setting up Portland’s first goal of the match with a well-placed free kick in the 14th minute of play (Watch Goal), the Argentinian midfielder scored his first goal just two minutes into the second half, producing a whipping header on midfielder Sebastián Blanco’s cross into the box in the 47th minute (Watch Goal).