MLS Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union Forward Jay Simpson Named Alcatel MLS Player of the Week

Published on September 25, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Philadelphia Union News Release


CHESTER, Pa. - Philadelphia Union forward Jay Simpson was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 30th week of the 2018 MLS season.

Simpson and the Union picked up six points from two games against Western Conference contenders last week, first defeating Seattle Sounders FC by a 1-0 final at CenturyLink Field on Wednesday before beating Sporting Kansas City 2-0 at Talen Energy Stadium on Sunday. The Union have a 6-1-1 record in their previous eight matches and sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings with 46 points (14-12-4 overall record).

Simpson had a hand in all three goals for Philadelphia last week. On the game-winner at Seattle, his pressure on Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei helped lead to a turnover that was converted by Fafa Picault. On Sunday, during Simpson's first regular-season start of the year, he scored a brace, converting in the 71st and 89th minutes to help the Union to a win over the Western Conference leaders.

Simpson becomes the ninth player in Union history to earn MLS Player of the Week recognition, joining Sebastien Le Toux (2010, Weeks 3 and 16), Justin Mapp (2011 Week 11), Jack McInerney (2013 Week 8), Chris Pontius (2016 Week 14), Roland Alberg (2016 Week 16), Ilsinho (2016 Week 18), CJ Sapong (2017 Week 10) and Borek Dockal (2018 Week 17).

Philadelphia takes on the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium tomorrow in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final (8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2) before returning to MLS regular-season action on Saturday, September 29 to face Columbus Crew SC on the road (7:30 p.m. ET, PHL17).

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. Learn more about the NASR and apply to join at https://www.facebook.com/soccerreporters/.

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