The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 29 of the 2023 regular season on Tuesday, with Memphis 901 FC forward Rodrigo Da Costa voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording the first hat trick of his career in the league in a 4-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium.
Over the past games Harvey recorded a goal against Indy Eleven and assisted Dariusz Formella’s goal against El Paso. Each of those goals were to equalize. he has completed 108 of 122 passes, winning 17 of 22 duels and 7 of 9 tackles, and recording five chances created in two performances.
Acquired in a midseason transfer from FC Tulsa, the Brazilian has led Memphis’ forward line with 11 goals since his move, helping send the side back to the USL Championship Playoffs for a third consecutive season. On Saturday night he twice answered goals by the Rowdies to take the lead before playing a role in Samuel Careaga’s finish before wrapping up his hat trick and all three points with 10 minutes to go. Da Costa has now recorded 14 goals overall this season, a new individual single-season high, as he approaches a half-century of goals in the Championship’s regular season for his career.
Da Costa earned 50 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Miami FC’s Jake McGuire finished second on 43 percent after recording a 12-save shutout in his side’s 2-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Sunday evening, a result that kept Miami alive in the race for the postseason as McGuire equaled the mark for the second-most saves recorded in a shutout in the USL Championship’s regular season.
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 29
GK – Jake McGuire, Miami FC: McGuire posted a 12-save shutout as Miami took a 2-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Sunday night, the most saves in a game in the USL Championship this season and tied for the second-most in a shutout in league history.
D – Joe Farrell, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The veteran center back headed home the opening goal in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 victory against New Mexico United and won 8 of 9 aerial duels while recording four clearances and six recoveries defensively.
D – Matt Lewis, Detroit City FC: Lewis sealed Le Rouge’s 3-0 victory against Hartford Athletic, which moved the side back above the playoff line on Saturday night, and won 2 of 2 tackles, 3 of 3 duels and 2 of 3 aerial duels while completing 38 of 43 passes overall.
D – Arturo Ordoñez, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Spanish center back recorded his fourth goal of the season and won 4 of 6 duels and 7 of 9 aerial duels while making three interceptions and eight recoveries in the Hounds’ 2-1 win against New Mexico United.
M – Carlos Harvey, Phoenix Rising FC: The Panama international recorded one goal and one assist over two games while completing 108 of 122 passes, winning 17 of 22 duels and 7 of 9 tackles, and recording five chances created in two stellar performances.
M – Taylor Davila, Rio Grande Valley FC: Davila put in another complete performance in the Toros’ 1-0 road victory against Indy Eleven on Sunday evening, recording the assists on the lone goal of the game while completing 41 of 50 passes and making 13 recoveries and one interception in midfield.
M – Kenardo Forbes, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Championship’s all-time assists leader recorded a pair of helpers to lead the Hounds to a 2-1 victory against New Mexico United, ending the night with five chances created and completing 16 of 20 passes overall.
M – Nathan Fogaça, San Antonio FC: Fogaça scored his second goal in as many games while also adding an assist in SAFC’s 4-0 victory against Orange County SC on Saturday and had three shots overall while completing 20 of 21 passes.
F – Rodrigo Da Costa, Memphis 901 FC: The Brazilian scored the first hat trick of his USL Championship career to lead 901 FC to a 4-2 victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Al Lang Stadium to clinch a postseason berth.
F – Joaquin Rivas, Miami FC: The El Salvador international led Miami’s first comeback victory of the season last Wednesday night, scoring a pair of goals in a 4-3 victory against Louisville City FC, winning a penalty kick and ending the night with five shots overall.
F – Fidel Barajas, Charleston Battery: The 17-year-old Mexico youth international recorded the first two-goal performance of his career to lead the Battery to a 2-1 victory against FC Tulsa, additionally recording four shots overall and winning 6 of 10 duels.
Bench: Nathan Steinwascher (DET), Aiden McFadden (MEM), Michael Bryant (DET), Dylan Mares (LOU), Gabriel Cabral (MIA), Cal Jennings (TBR), Xavi Gnaulati (SD)