Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) forward Adama Diomande was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 18 following his hat-trick performance in LAFC’s 4-1 victory over Philadelphia Union at Banc of California Stadium on June 30.
Diomande registered the first-ever hat-trick in Club history in just 55 minutes, taking his goal tally to seven in his first five MLS games, the most goals of any player in the league’s 23-year history after five matches played. With the win, LAFC remains in third place in the Western Conference with a 9-4-3 (30 points) record.
The Norwegian forward opened the scoring with a goal in the 25th minute of the match, dispossessing the Union of the ball and displaying fancy footwork to weave past a defender in the box before finishing with a low right-footed shot into the far left side of goal. Diomande pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 43rd minute off an assist from teammate Mark-Anthony Kaye in the box with an easy tap-in directly in front of goal.
Following a Union goal, Diomande extended the lead to 3-1 in the 55th minute to complete LAFC’s first hat-trick. It was another close range goal for the forward when he recovered a Latif Blessing shot attempt and slammed it home with a right-footed strike.
The Black & Gold return to action tonight against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium (6:00 p.m. PT, YouTube TV / UniMás), before hosting Orlando City SC on Saturday, July 7 at Banc of California Stadium (1:30 p.m. PT, FOX / FOX Sports GO / FOX Deportes).
