Columbus Crew SC forward Gyasi Zardes completed an impressive comeback season with his first career MLS hat trick on Sunday. Now he's been named Alcatel MLS Player of the Week for the second time this season.
On Decision Day presented by AT&T, Zardes propelled Columbus to a 3-2 victory over Minnesota United FC at MAPFRE Stadium. The victory secured Crew SC the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference for the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, as the club finished the season with 51 points (14-11-9). Zardes finished the year with a career-high 19 goals, tied for the fourth most in the league in 2018.
Crew SC took an early 1-0 lead on a Zardes' 11th-minute header from inside the box, then doubled his side's advantage in the 49th minute in the aftermath of a free kick.
Following a Minnesota comeback, Zardes completed his hat trick with an 83rd-minute game-winner, taking Niko Hansen's cross and finishing with his right foot.
Columbus faces D.C. United on Thursday in a Knockout Round tilt at Audi Field (8 pm ET | FS1, UniMas, TVAS, TSN).
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada.
