NEW YORK(Tuesday, June 21, 2016) - New York Red Bulls midfielder Mike Grella was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 15th week of the 2016 MLS season.
Grella continued both his and the Red Bulls' strong run of form, as his brace led the club to a 2-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC at Red Bull Arena on Sunday for the team's fourth consecutive shutout victory. In his second season with the Red Bulls, Grella has proven instrumental to its success as the team is now undefeated this season going 5-0 in matches where Grella scores a goal. NYRB now sits in second place in the Eastern Conference standings (22 points, 7-7-1), one point behind leader Philadelphia Union.
Grella is the third New York Red Bulls player to win the MLS Player of the Week award this season, joining Bradley Wright-Phillips and Felipe. Only the LA Galaxy have as many Player of the Week award winners in 2016.
With the match scoreless in the early going, Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan rocketed a shot that ricocheted off the far post, but Grella found himself in the right place at the right time to knock in the rebound, putting the home side up 1-0 in the 18th minute (Watch Goal).
The New York native notched his brace with a beauty of a goal in the 59th minute of play, stealing a back pass before smoothly chipping Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei for a 2-0 Red Bulls advantage (Watch Goal). The goal is one of eight nominated for AT&T Goal of the Week.
The Red Bulls next face Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday, June 22 (10 p.m. ET, MLS Live), before wrapping up the week at MAPFRE Stadium to take on Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, June 25 (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG, MSG GO, Red Bulls Radio).
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.
