David Accam celebrates his second goal for the Fire Saturday night. (Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports)
NEW YORK – Chicago Fire forward David Accam Tuesday was voted the Major League Soccer player of the week by the North American Soccer Reporters.
Accam scored three goals and added an assist in Chicago’s 4-0 victory over Orlando City SC Saturday at Toyota Park, recording his first career MLS hat-trick and becoming the seventh Fire player to accomplish the feat.
The Ghana international is tied for third in the Golden Boot standings with 10 goals scored to go along with six assists, as he is tied for the league lead in combined goals and assists this season. After winning its third consecutive match and extending its unbeaten mark to nine games, Chicago sits in second place in the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings with 34 points (10-3-4).
The 26-year-old put Chicago up 1-0 in the third minute with a backheel goal from close range off a Matt Polster pass. Accam recorded his first brace in MLS with a goal in the eighth minute to put Chicago ahead 2-0, receiving a pass from Bastian Schweinsteiger and rounding goalkeeper Joe Bendik before finishing with a right-footed strike from in front of goal.
Accam added an assist after threading the defense to set up Nemanja Nikolic’s league-leading 14th goal in the 52nd minute for a 3-0 Fire advantage. In the 63rd minute, Accam completed his hat-trick by hammering home a right-footed penalty kick to put Chicago ahead, 4-0.
The Fire next play FC Cincinnati (United Soccer League) in the Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup at Nippert Stadium Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2) before returning to MLS action to host Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Toyota Park Saturday (7 p.m. ET, TSN).
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.
