Another week, another Team of the Week honor for Martinez
TAMPA, FL – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 19 of the 2023 regular season on Tuesday, with Legion FC’s Enzo Martinez receiving the honor thanks to his performance against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Martinez, with his fourth Team of the Week honor this season, scored the lone goal in Saturday’s fixture against the Rowdies to cap off Legion’s 1-0 shutout. A goal that started out of the back, the play began with goalkeeper Matt VanOekel sending a ball over the top to an onrushing Prosper Kasim getting behind Tampa’s defense. Kasim ran into the penalty area and crossed it over to Martinez who smashed it while running in between two defenders.
Martinez also led his squad during the victory in touches in the opposition’s half (six), shots on target (two), duels won (six), and tackles (three). The 2022 Legion FC Team MVP has continued showing his quality this season, as the Uruguayan now leads the Legion in goals (eight) and ties for the most assists (five).
Phillip Goodrum earned 55 percent of the ballot to claim the USL Player of the Week award. San Antonio FC’s Rida Zouhir finished second on 36 percent after scoring a pair of long-range strikes in his side’s comeback 2-1 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC last Wednesday night at Southwest University Park.
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 19
GK – Trey Muse, Charleston Battery: Muse recorded seven saves across two games, including a penalty save against Miami FC on Saturday night, and conceded only twice on a 4.02xGA mark to help the Battery earn draws on the road at Indy Eleven and Miami FC.
D – Michael DeShields, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: DeShields provided the assist on the Hounds’ opening goal against Detroit City FC on Saturday night and across two victories for the side recorded 10 clearances and nine recoveries while winning 10 of 16 duels.
D – Fabien Garcia, San Antonio FC: Garcia won 5 of 5 duels and 3 of 4 tackles while making five clearances and three interceptions and blocking two shots in San Antonio’s 2-1 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC on Wednesday night.
D – Danny Barbir, Oakland Roots SC: Barbir recorded an assist in Oakland’s 1-1 draw against Memphis 901 FC on Wednesday night and across two appearances won 5 of 6 tackles and 9 of 13 duels while making 10 recoveries in a four-point week for the side.
M – Adrien Perez, San Diego Loyal SC: Perez scored the opening goal after 35 seconds, notched two assists and had five shots overall in leading SD Loyal to a 5-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Friday night.
M – Rida Zouhir, San Antonio FC: The 19-year-old recorded a pair of long-range finishes to rally San Antonio to a 2-1 victory against Copa Tejas rival El Paso Locomotive FC while completing 3 of 4 dribbles and notching three chances created and four shots overall.
M – Blake Bodily, San Diego Loyal SC: Bodily scored a pair of goals in SD Loyal’s 5-0 victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and completed 16 of 20 passes overall while winning 2 of 3 duels defensively on Friday night.
M – Jeciel Cedeno, Oakland Roots SC: The recent acquisition scored his first goal for Roots SC in its 1-1 draw with Memphis 901 FC on Wednesday night and then notched an assist in the side’s 3-1 win at Monterey Bay F.C. and finished the week with six shots and three chances created while completing 42 of 54 passes.
F – Phillip Goodrum, FC Tulsa: Goodrum provided the assist on Marcus Epps’ game-winner on Wednesday night against Miami FC, then scored twice – including a game-winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time – in his side’s 3-2 win against Hartford Athletic on Saturday night.
F – Johnny Rodriguez, Oakland Roots SC: Rodriguez scored twice in Oakland’s 3-1 victory against NorCal rival Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night and across two games notched three chances created and completed 32 of 42 passes as Roots SC returned to the playoff positions in the Western Conference.
F – Marcus Epps, FC Tulsa: Epps scored in both of Tulsa’s victories in the week, providing the game-winner against Miami FC while also finding the net against Hartford Athletic, and completed 43 of 60 passes and 3 of 7 dribbles across the week.
Bench: Colin Shutler (OC), Erik McCue (ELP), Burke Fahling (PIT), Shannon Gomez (SA), Enzo Martinez (BHM), Albert Dikwa (PIT), Dario Suarez (DET)
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