Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush got to the ball just before Rodney Wallace, but he could not stop the NYC FC forward from scoring in the 44th minute. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

Rodney Wallace, who scored New York City FC’s lone goal and played an excellent all-around match, was named FrontRowSoccer.com’s player of the week, ending the week of Sunday, March 19.

Wallace earned man of the match honors for City in its 1-1 home draw with the Montreal Impact.

He tallied his second goal of the season — and for the second successive game — in the 44th minute at Yankee Stadium Saturday.

Both of Wallace’s goals this year — Wallace recorded the other one in the 4-0 thumping of D.C. United last week — were scored the same way as he wound up in the right place at the right time in the penalty area. Saturday, he pounced on a rebound of an Alex Ring save by Evan Bush and put it away.

“He deserved it because of the way he’s working for the team,” head coach Patrick Vieira said. “He’s a team player, and I was really pleased with his goal because he’s working really hard when he’s on the field.”

Wallace? He said it was “just being alert, following the plays. I think that we today we created a lot of chances. It’s important for us to attack from different angles.”

He then mentioned Jack Harrison, David Villa and Alex Ring, or “from whoever it is I think that it’s important for us to keep attacking. For me personally, getting inside the box and making sure I follow things up. That’s one of my qualities as well.”

Vieira has appreciated those qualities and a work ethic that has been second to none.

“He loves the game. He’s working hard in training in the game,” he said. “He’s got a really good attitude in the dressing room. All the players love him. I like his character. He’s did really well in the league. He won the title, so he knows how to do it. He’s got good experience as well, but I think what I really love about him is the way he’s competing when he’s on the field and he can score goals.”

 

https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/751567988349993/

 

(Video courtesy of NYC FC’s Facebook page)

Now, it’s off to Costa Rica for the Costa Rican international, along with NYC FC defender Ronald Matarrita, for a pair of vital World Cup qualifiers. The Ticos visit Mexico Friday and Honduras March 28.

The Central American side leads the CONCACAF hexagonal with a perfect 2-0-0 mark and six points, so it is in excellent shape heading into Games Three and Four out of the 10-game schedule. The top three teams earn automatic berths to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the fourth-place side will play in a playoff.

FrontRowSoccer.com player of the week winners

Week 1 (March 6) — Joseph Bendik (Orlando City SC)

Week 2 (March 13) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 3 (March 20) — Rodney Wallace (New York City FC)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.