Ben Sweat celebrates his first MLS goal Saturday. (Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports)

Ben Sweat has all of 781 minutes and nine games of Major League Soccer experience. Yet, the New York City defender had the vision to play a pivotal role in the Hudson River Derby at Red Bull Arena Saturday.

He set up the first goal of City’s 2-0 win over the Red Bulls and scored the second one as the visitors won at RBA for the first time since the rivalry began in 2015.

Sweat was honored not once, but twice, as he was named winner of the FrontRowSoccer.com goal of the week and player of the week Monday.

“When you look at Ben and the way he’s been playing the last few weeks and months, he’s been really good,” NYCFC head coach Patrick Vieira said. “What was really pleasant today was that I saw a team competing at a really high level. We showed character and quality.”

NYCFC took a deserved lead in the 33rd minute on Jack Harrison’s seventh goal of the season. Left wing Rodney Wallace sent a pass to Sweat, who slotted the ball to Harrison. The English forward then sent an arching shot from 12 yards past goalkeeper Luis Robles into the right corner.

https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/813707585469366/

Video courtesy of NYCFC’s Facebook page

Sweat could not have found a better time to score his first goal of the season as his header from the left side off Alex Ring’s long free kick found the far right post for a stunning two-goal lead in the 65th minute.

“It was just our standard set piece – they didn’t mark me at the back post and sure enough Ring put a perfect ball in and I got my head to it,” Sweat said. “It was amazing for it to go in and to put that second goal in to close off the game like that.”

https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcityfc/videos/813708045469320/

Video courtesy of NYCFC’s Facebook page

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)

Week 4 (March 27) — Vincent Bezecourt (New York Red Bulls II)

Week 5 (April 3) — Ronald Matarrita (New York City FC)

Week 6 (April 10) — Jimmy Maurer (New York Cosmos)

Week 7 (April 17) — Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls)

Week 8 (April 24) — Alex Muyl (New York Red Bulls)

Week 9 (May 1) — Jack Harrison (New York City FC)

Week 10 (May 8) — Rodney Wallace (New York City FC)

Week 11 (May 15) — Sam Kerr (Sky Blue FC)

Week 12 (May 22) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 13 (May 29) — Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls)

Week 14 (June 5) — Alex Callens and Maxime Chanot (New York City FC)

Week 15 (June 12) — No award given

Week 16 (June 19) — Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls), David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 17 (June 26) — Ben Sweat (New York City FC)

FrontRowSoccer.com goal of the week winners

Week 1 (March 6) — Daniel Royer (New York Red Bulls)

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

Week 3 (March 20) — Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)

Week 4 (March 27) — Vincent Bezecourt (New York Red Bulls II)

Week 5 (April 3) — New York City FC (Tommy McNamara, Ronald Matarrita, David Villa, Alexander Callens)

Week 6 (April 10) — New York Cosmos (Danny Szetela, Ryan Richter)

Week 7 (April 17) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 8 (April 24) — Javi Marquez (New York Cosmos)

Week 9 (May 1) — Kemar Lawrence (New York Red Bulls)

Week 10 (May 8) — David Villa (New York City FC)

Week 11 (May 15) — Tommy McNamara (New York City FC)

Week 12 (May 22) — Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)

Week 13 (May 29) – Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)

Week 14 (June 5) — Juan Guerra (New York Cosmos)

Week 15 (June 12) — None awarded

Week 16 (June 19) — Raquel Rodriguez (Sky Blue FC)

Week 17 (June 26) — Ben Sweat (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.