Ilsinho named MLS Player of the Week

For the third time this year, a Philadelphia Union midfielder takes home MLS Player of the Week honors. This time around it’s Ilsinho.

The highly touted Brazilian has had a recent string of "did you see this gif yet?" performances but didn’t find his shooting boots until the Week-18 clash against DC United. His technical work in the box was enough to win a penalty in the 37th minute, which he calmly put to the left side of the goal to open his MLS account. Ilsinho was then able to put the game away after CJ Sapong nodded a header into his path. The former Shaktar Donetsk player unleashed a cannon of a shot from inside the box, and United keeper Bill Hamid was rendered completely useless.

This has been a banner year for Union players getting league recognition. Three Union players (Chris Pontius, Roland Alberg, and Ilsinho) have earned the honor this year alone, Keegan Rosenberry and Andre Blake are in the All-Star game, and Blake has a near-permanent spot in the Save of the Week polls.