Los Angeles Football Club forward Cristian Arango has been voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 24 of the 2021 MLS season.
Arango scored a pair of goals as LAFC defeated Real Salt Lake 3-2 at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday evening, the club’s second win in succession.
Arango opened the scoring for LAFC after just 20 seconds. From a fast break upfield directly off the opening kickoff, Arango latched onto a deflected pass just inside the penalty area and burst in on goal before side-footing home. The goal was the quickest from the start of a game in LAFC club history, and tied the eighth-fastest goal from the opening kickoff in MLS league history.
Arango then completed his brace on the half-hour, restoring LAFC’s one-goal advantage in the match. Eduard Atuesta floated a chip to the penalty spot from the right side of the box, and Arango rose up to powerfully head home into the left side of the goal.
The goals were the third and fourth for LAFC and in MLS for the Colombian-born striker, making just his sixth appearance after being signed from Millonarios FC in his home country. All four of Arango’s goals have come in the last three matches, as LAFC has gone undefeated over the stretch, scoring 10 goals in the process.
Arango and LAFC return to action on Wednesday evening, Sept. 15, when they travel to face Austin FC at Q2 Stadium (6pm PT, Bally Sports SoCal, Estrella TV).
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.
