NEW YORK – LA Galaxy rorward Zlatan Ibrahimovic was voted the Major League Soccer player of the week by the North American Soccer Reporters, it was announced Thursday.
As it turns out, Ibrahimovic did not partcipate in the MLS all-star game in Atlanta Thursday night.
The Galaxy drew Los Angeles Football Club 2-2 at Banc of California Stadium Thursday, with the help from Ibrahimovic’s assist in the 82nd minute to make the score 2-1 (Watch Assist).
At the StubHub Center Sunday, Ibrahimovic recorded his first MLS hat-trick along with an assist in a 4-3 win over Orlando City, extending the team’s unbeaten streak to nine. Ibrahimovic is the league’s No. 2 goal scorer with 15 goals in 17 matches. LA (10-7-5,) sit third in the Western Conference with 35 points.
Ibra began his assault of the Lions when he assisted Giovani dos Santos in the 39th minute to tie the game 1-1 (Watch Assist). He scored his first goal to equalize at 2-2 when he capitalized on dos Santos’ high cross from the left side to head the ball into the back of the net (Watch Goal ). After Orlando grabbed the lead, it was Ibrahimovic who put LA back into contention. He used a header to free teammate Ola Kamara, who sent a cross back to Ibrahimovic. The forward scored off diving header past goalkeeper Earl Edwards for a 3-3 tie (Watch Goal).
Four minutes later in the 71st minute, Ibrahimovic displayed his goal scoring skills once again just four minutes later in the 71st minute with his third goal. He capitalized on a botched clearance outside of the box to score off of a half volley into the left corner of the goal (Watch Goal).
The Galaxy returns to action to face Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Saturday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
