Philadelphia Union: C.J. Sapong named MLS Player of the Week

The accolades continue to come for Philadelphia Union forward C.J. Sapong.

It has been announced that Sapong has won MLS Player of the Week for his performance against New York Red Bulls on Saturday. The forward scored his first career hat trick late in the second half with goals in the 74^th, 81^st, and 85^th minute. The 11-hat-trickt trick was only the third Union hat trick on record with Roland Alberg’s last season, and Sebastian Le Toux’s in 2010 in the first ever Union home game.

The award marks Sapong’s second of the week as he was also named to the MLS team of the Week, joining Union teammate Andre Blake who put in a rather stunning performance as well in goal. The two combined to shut out their rivals from upstate New Jersey, the New York Red Bulls.

Sapong has been a vital part of the Union attack in the early season while not always scoring goals he currently does stand tied for the lead in MLS’s golden boot race. Erick Torres currently sits tied with the Union striker on 7 goals in the early season.

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Further illustrating the two player’s successes in the young season is that both haven’t played in every game for their respective teams. Beyond that Sapong came into the season behind Jay Simpson as the Union’s favored starting forward and has done a lot to take the starting position in the Union attack.

Sapong’s success in the early season is a continuation of what the Union fans have come to expect from the young American forward from Virginia. He uses his body to hold up the ball for a Union team that has not had a lot of success going forward for much of the season. He is often one of the most fouled forwards in the league and his hold up play is often cited as a big plus for the player.

Sapong was one of the big reasons that a 0-0 tie in the 70^th minute turned into a huge victory for the Union. He almost opened the scoring even earlier with an incredible header that was met by an even more incredible Luis Robles save. Sapong, however, continued to push and a mistaken back header from a defender later and the Union took a lead. Sapong’s eye for goal led to his second as Fabian Herbers put a nice cross in for Chris Pontius who pushed it back for an easy Sapong tap in goal. Finally, Sapong scored on a Pontius earned a penalty.

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Sapong’s night on Saturday embodied what many Philly sports fans expect from their players. It was a gritty performance throughout and he used his body to make plays. Ultimately, through his determination, Sapong has risen to the top of goal-scorers in the league and to the Player of the Week award.

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