SANDY, Utah (Tuesday, September 4, 2018) – Real Salt Lake MF Damir Kreilach was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 27th week of the 2018 MLS season.
Kreilach scored his first career MLS hat trick in RSL’s 6-2 victory over the LA Galaxy on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Croatian international’s 10 goals this season tie for the team lead, while his six assists on the season rank fourth. Real Salt Lake sits fourth in the Western Conference standings with 44 points (13-10-5 overall record) after winning its third consecutive match on Saturday.
After each team scored an early goal in the match, Kreilach put RSL ahead 2-1 in the third minute of first half stoppage time with an impressive display of skill. Kreilach collected a long Brooks Lennon aerial pass in the box using his chest, flicked the ball to himself over the goalkeeper’s outstretched arms and easily slotted home a header into the empty net (Watch Goal).
Kreilach then gave RSL a 4-1 advantage in the 61st minute, sliding directly in front of goal to poke in Albert Rusnak’s cross with his right foot (Watch Goal). Real Salt Lake capped the night by taking a 6-2 lead in the 71st minute on Kreilach’s third goal of the match. Jefferson Savarino dribbled from the right flank into the box and sent a pass to Kreilach, who finished with a right-footed shot from directly in front of goal (Watch Goal).
Real Salt Lake returns to action on Saturday, September 15 when hosting Minnesota United FC at Rio Tinto Stadium (7:30 p.m. MT, tickets at KSL.com/RSL).
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/.
