Martinez received his third TOTW honor of the year and Pasher his second after both players played a key role in Legion FC’s 3-3 draw against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 18 of the regular season on Tuesday, with Legionnaires Enzo Martinez and Tyler Pasher both receiving the honor for their impact in Legion FC’s draw to Las Vegas.
Martinez was involved in all three of Birmingham’s goals in its match against Las Vegas, scoring once and providing two assists during the 90 minutes. Martinez is now tied for the most assists in the USL Championship so far this season with five to his name. The Uruguayan also impressively led the game in tackles and tackles won (5/4) on Saturday night, more than any player on both teams.
Pasher scored a goal moments before halftime against Las Vegas that put the Black & Gold up 2-0 on the scoreline. Martinez fed a ball in behind for Pasher, and the Canadian slotted it home with his first touch into the far post from outside the box. Pasher also led Birmingham in chances created and shots on target.
San Antonio FC forward Tani Oluwaseyi was voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording a first-half hat trick in his side’s 4-0 victory against Memphis 901 FC on Friday night at AutoZone Park.
The 23-year-old recorded his second hat trick of the 2023 campaign against 901 FC, opening the scoring in the 15th minute with a low finish to the right side of the net before bagging his second 11 minutes later as he responded fastest after having a low cross parried in the six-yard area to flick a finish over the prone goalkeeper. Oluwaseyi completed his hat trick six minutes before halftime as he fired home a first-time shot from 20 yards into the bottom-left corner off an assist by Jorge Hernandez. He has now recorded nine goals in nine appearances since arriving at San Antonio FC on loan from Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer, helping power the attack for the defending Championship title holders while becoming the first player in SAFC history to record two hat tricks for the club.
Oluwaseyi earned 69 percent of the ballot to claim the award. The Tampa Bay Rowdies’ Cal Jennings finished second on 15 percent after recording a hat trick in his side’s 3-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC as the Rowdies ran their undefeated streak to 11 games and moved to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.
USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 18
GK – Antony Siaha, Monterey Bay F.C.: Siaha recorded a six-save shutout to earn his side a point in a scoreless draw against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night, including four saves on shots inside the penalty area.
D – Wahab Ackwei, Rio Grande Valley FC: Ackwei scored the game-winning goal in the Toros’ 2-0 victory against Orange County SC on Sunday night, hit the woodwork with another chance off a corner kick and won 2 of 2 aerial duels while completing 35 of 41 passes overall.
D – Mitchell Taintor, San Antonio FC: Taintor recorded five interceptions and nine recoveries while making two clearances and winning 4 of 6 duels defensively and notched a pair of chances created as a target at set pieces in the attacking half.
D – Erik McCue, El Paso Locomotive FC: McCue won 7 of 7 duels and 3 of 4 tackles as Locomotive FC posted a shutout in its 0-0 draw at Monterey Bay F.C. while also recording two blocked shots, five clearances and eight recoveries and completing 35 of 45 passes.
M – Jorge Hernandez, San Antonio FC: Hernandez recorded a goal and two assists in his side’s 4-0 victory against Memphis 901 FC and completed 16 of 20 passes overall and made five recoveries defensively.
M – Steven Echevarria, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: Echevarria recorded the first two-goal game of his career in the Switchbacks’ 4-0 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. on Tuesday night and completed 21 of 24 passes while winning 3 of 5 duels defensively.
M – Jonathan Ricketts, Rio Grande Valley FC: Ricketts scored the insurance goal in the Toros’ 2-0 victory against Orange County SC on Sunday night, capping a performance in which he completed 37 of 47 passes and 2 of 3 dribbles while winning 5 of 7 duels, 4 of 4 aerial duels, and made seven recoveries.
M – Sebastian Dalgaard, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Danish winger recorded a pair of assists in his side’s 3-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC and completed 26 of 31 passes overall while winning 4 of 6 duels and 2 of 2 aerial duels defensively.
F – Tani Oluwaseyi, San Antonio FC: Oluwaseyi recorded a first-half hat trick – his second of the season, becoming the first player in SAFC history to record multiple hat tricks for the club – to lead San Antonio to a 4-0 victory on the road against Memphis 901 FC and had eight shots overall in the contest.
F – Cal Jennings, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Jennings recorded the third hat trick of his career to lead the Tampa Bay Rowdies to a 3-0 victory against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night while also completing 9 of 13 passes and winning 2 of 3 aerial duels as he put all five of his shots on target on the night.
F – Enzo Martinez, Birmingham Legion FC: Martinez recorded one goal and two assists in Legion FC’s 3-3 draw with Las Vegas Lights FC, recording five shots overall and hitting the woodwork once while also winning 4 of 5 tackles, 5 of 5 duels and 1 of 1 aerial duels.
Bench: Jordan Farr (SA), Morey Doner (MB), Ruxi (TUL), Tyler Pasher (BHM), Houssou Landry (LDN), Evan Conway (SD), Tabort Etaka Preston (LV)
The Legionnaires return to Birmingham THIS SATURDAY on July 15th! Come cheer on the Black & Gold as they take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies! Tickets can be purchased HERE.
For all club news and updates, fans are encouraged to follow @bhmlegion on social media and keep an eye on bhmlegion.com and the Legion FC app. Download the Legion FC app today on Apple or Android, and sync our 2023 schedule to your calendar HERE.
