New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri was named the Player of the Week on Monday for Week 31 of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.
Valeri scored a pair of goals in Portland's 3-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night to keep the Timbers in the MLS playoff hunt, while his brace allowed him to set a new club record with 11 goals in a single season.
Rodney Wallace opened the scoring for the Timbers and Valeri doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 51st minute by sending Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch the wrong way.
The Argentina native then capped the scoring in the 73rd minute when he scored on the rebound after Wallace had his shot saved by Busch.
In addition to his 11 goals this season, Valeri ranks second in MLS with 14 assists.
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from the North America Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.