NEW YORK(Tuesday, August 16, 2016) – New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 23rd week of the 2016 MLS season.
With a brace in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Impact, Wright-Phillips became the Red Bulls’ all-time regular season leading goal scorer with 59 goals, surpassing club legend Juan Pablo Angel’s record of 58. The Englishman now has 14 tallies this season, good for second in the Golden Boot race, and four assists. The prolific striker has helped NYRB climb to third place in the Eastern Conference standings (36 points, 10-9-6 record) while claiming a seven-game unbeaten streak in MLS play. The Red Bulls are undefeated this year when Wright-Phillips records a goal or assist, going 7-0-4.
After going down 1-0 in the 21st minute, Wright-Phillips responded with the equalizer just a minute later. Wright-Phillips collected the ball at the top of the box where he was tripped up, before managing to squeeze a shot past goalkeeper Evan Bush to draw the game even at 1-1 (Watch Goal).
Wright-Phillips completed his brace with the game-winner in the 41st minute, redirecting a Sean Davis cross with a beautifully placed header for a 2-1 Red Bulls advantage (Watch Goal). The historic goal placed Wright-Phillips atop the Red Bulls’ all-time regular season goal scoring list.
New York is in El Salvador to take on Alianza FC in Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League play tonight at 10 p.m. ET with live coverage on the CONCACAF Facebook page and Red Bulls Radio on TuneIn. The Red Bulls return to MLS action this Sunday against Eastern Conference rivals D.C. United at RFK Stadium (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes).
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
