ATLANTA — Atlanta United midfielder Miguel Almirón was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 12th week of the 2017 MLS season. Almirón scored three goals during Atlanta’s 4-1 win over Houston, notching his first hat trick of the season and his second multi-goal game.
Almirón, a 23-year-old Paraguayan Designated Player, opened the scoring in the 30th minute against Houston. Midfielder Yamil Asad played Almirón, who took a perfect first touch to move around a defender at the top of the box and then blast a left-footed shot past Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis. The goal is nominated for MLS Goal of the Week.
Atlanta’s No. 10 added a second in the 42nd minute. Asad collected a Julian Gressel cross and laid the ball off to Almirón, who beat a trio of defenders and sent a shot into the top right corner. Almirón finished his hat trick from the penalty spot in the 80th minute when he calmly hit his penalty into the side net to the right of Willis. Almirón has scored five goals and added four assists on the season.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. Almirón is the second Atlanta United player to win the award this season, joining forward Josef Martinez who won in Week 2.
Atlanta United returns to action on Sunday when they host New York City FC at Bobby Dodd Stadium in a nationally televised match (ESPN). Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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