The USL Championship announced the Week 25 Team of the Week today, with Rising midfielder Panos Armenakas earning a spot on the squad for his game-winning goal in the 82nd minute of Phoenix’s 3-2 win in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Armenakas also created four chances, finished the match with 85% passing accuracy and won five duels. Rising is back in action again tomorrow, Wednesday, August 30 at 7:30 for a $1 Beer Night match against Sacramento Republic.
Birmingham Legion FC forward Neco Brett was voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording four goals across two appearances, including the third regular season hat trick of his career.
The Jamaican earned the award for the second time this season, having previously claimed the honor in Week 4, as he scored his first regular-season hat trick in Legion FC’s colors in a 3-1 victory against FC Tulsa last Wednesday night. Brett leveled the game in the 19th minute after Legion FC had gone behind early before adding a second two minutes later and wrapping up his hat trick in the 33rd minute, a run of three goals in 14 minutes. Brett then added his fourth goal of the week on Sunday in Birmingham’s contest against Detroit City FC, which moved him into a tie for second all-time in the Championship’s regular season history with 79 goals overall alongside current Louisville City FC forward Cameron Lancaster and Hadji Barry.
Brett earned 71 percent of the ballot to claim the award. San Diego Loyal SC forward Tumi Moshbane finished second on 21 percent after scoring twice, including a late game-winner, in his side’s 3-2 win against Rio Grande Valley FC on Saturday night.
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 25
GK – Connor Sparrow, Tampa Bay Rowdies
D – Oscar Jimenez, Louisville City FC: Jimenez scored the game-winner deep in second-half stoppage time to lift LouCity to a 2-1 win against Oakland Roots SC while completing 33 of 41 passes and recording four chances created and defensively winning 2 of 2 tackles and 3 of 3 duels.
D – Danny Barbir, Oakland Roots SC: Barbir recorded a pair of assists in Oakland’s 2-1 victory against New Mexico United on Wednesday night and across two games made 16 recoveries and three interceptions while winning 2 of 2 tackles in two solid all-around displays.
D – Dani Rovira, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: The Colombian recorded a pair of assists in the Hounds’ 4-3 victory against Hartford Athletic on Wednesday night and won 3 of 3 tackles while making six recoveries defensively.
M – Aodhan Quinn, Indy Eleven: Quinn recorded one goal and had three shots and four chances created in Indy’s 2-1 win against Loudoun United FC while completing 46 of 52 passes, and defensively he won 2 of 2 tackles, 5 of 5 duels and made nine recoveries in a strong all-around performance.
M – Charlie Dennis, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The English midfielder recorded one goal and had two shots and two chances created in the Rowdies’ 2-0 victory against Miami FC while completing 44 of 50 passes and winning 3 of 4 duels overall.
M – Panos Armenakas, Phoenix Rising FC: The Australian recorded the game-winning goal in Rising FC’s 3-2 win at Las Vegas Lights FC and completed 23 of 27 passes overall while recording four chances created and completing 3 of 4 dribbles at Cashman Field.
M – Kyle Scott, Orange County SC: Scott recorded one assist and completed 31 of 34 passes in Orange County’s 2-0 victory against Sacramento Republic FC at Hughes Stadium while also winning 4 of 6 tackles and 10 of 16 duels and making nine recoveries.
F – Neco Brett, Birmingham Legion FC: The Jamaican recorded four goals across two games, including the third regular season hat trick of his career on Wednesday night against FC Tulsa, while recording six shots overall and notching three chances created.
F – Tumi Moshobane, San Diego Loyal SC: The South African scored a pair of goals to lead San Diego Loyal SC to a 3-2 victory at Rio Grande Valley FC while completing 17 of 19 passes and notching two chances created and winning 2 of 2 tackles defensively.
F – Ben Morris, Detroit City FC: Morris contributed to all three goals in DCFC’s 3-2 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Sunday evening, scoring twice and creating the threat that resulted in an own goal while recording six shots overall and winning 3 of 4 tackles.
Bench: Juan Santana (OC), Dillon Powers (OC), Younes Boudadi (IND), Jay Chapman (COS), Chris Allan (CHS), Albert Dikwa (PIT), Daniel Rios (LV)