The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 23 of the 2023 regular season on Tuesday, with Phoenix Rising FC forward Danny Trejo voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording two goals and two assists in his side’s emphatic 5-0 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday night.
Trejo became the first player to record a two-goal, two-assist game in Rising FC’s history in the Championship, providing the assist on Eddie Munjoma’s goal to open the scoring in the 21st minute against Locomotive FC. Trejo added a pair of finishes either side of halftime as the hosts expanded its advantage before capping his display with an assist on Gabriel Torres’ goal with a minute to go. The performance marked the second time Trejo has recorded two goals and two assists in a USL Championship contest individually, having also done so a season ago for Las Vegas Lights FC against, coincidentally, El Paso.
Trejo earned 50 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Indy Eleven’s Solomon Asante and San Antonio FC’s Rida Zouhir finished tied for second on 17 percent apiece as Asante recorded a three-assist performance in his side’s 4-0 win against Birmingham Legion FC last Wednesday night, while Zouhir scored a pair of outstanding goals in SAFC’s 3-0 win against New Mexico United 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 23
GK – Dane Jacomen, Loudoun United FC: Jacomen recorded a five-save shutout, including a key second-half penalty kick save to keep his side ahead, in United’s 3-0 victory against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night.
D – Dani Rovira, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC: Rovira notched one assist in the Hounds’ 2-0 victory against Hartford Athletic and won 6 of 8 duels while completing 40 of 45 passes overall in another solid display.
D – Fabien Garcia, San Antonio FC: Garcia was dominant on the back line for San Antonio, recording eight clearances and 12 recoveries in his side’s 3-0 win against New Mexico United on Saturday, while also winning 2 of 3 aerial duels.
D – Adrian Diz Pe, Indy Eleven: The Cuban center back scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Miami FC on Saturday night while also contributing to a pair of shutouts over the week, recording 14 clearances and completing 66 of 81 passes.
M – Rida Zouhir, San Antonio FC: The 19-year-old scored a pair of standout goals to lead SAFC to a 3-0 victory against New Mexico United while recording four shots and two chances created and completing 20 of 26 passes.
M – Charlie Dennis, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Dennis scored the opening goal for the Rowdies in their comeback victory against Monterey Bay F.C. and had four chances created while completing 39 of 43 passes overall and 6 of 7 long passes.
M – Solomon Asante, Indy Eleven: The two-time MVP recorded the third three-assist game of his career – the first player in league history to do so – as Indy took a 4-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC while completing 24 of 29 passes and winning 3 of 4 duels.
M – Juan David Cabezas, Rio Grande Valley FC: The veteran midfielder scored the Toros’ first goal in a 2-2 draw on the road against Louisville City FC and made 11 recoveries defensively while winning 4 of 6 duels and 6 of 7 aerial duels.
F – Danny Trejo, Phoenix Rising FC: Trejo became the first player in Rising FC history to record two goals and two assists in a USL Championship game as he led his side to a 5-0 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC, recording four shots while also winning 5 of 5 duels.
F – Sebastian Guenzatti, Indy Eleven: The veteran forward scored a pair of goals in his side’s 4-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC on Wednesday night while completing 21 of 22 passes overall and winning 4 of 7 duels and 2 of 3 tackles.
F – Jake LaCava, Tampa Bay Rowdies: LaCava recorded a goal and assist in Tampa Bay’s 4-1 victory against Monterey Bay F.C. on Saturday night as he notched two shots, two chances created and completed 24 of 25 passes.
Bench: Drew Romig (MEM), Arturo Ordonez (PIT), Younes Boudadi (IND), Manny Perez (LOU), Milo Yosef (TUL), Blake Bodily (SD), Rodrigo Da Costa (MEM)