NEW YORK (Monday, September 19, 2022) – Charlotte FC forward Karol Świderski was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire for the 32nd week of the 2022 MLS season.
Świderski scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 96th minute, as part of the club’s 3-2 comeback victory over Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, September 17. Świderski recorded his third multi-goal game of the season, which is the most by a Charlotte player and tied for the sixth most in the league in 2022. Additionally, he is tied for the most multi-score games among first-year MLS players. Świderski became the first player since 2018 to score 10 goals for an expansion club in their first season of play (LAFC’s Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi, and Adama Diomande). Charlotte’s victory after falling behind 2-0 marked their first comeback win from a two-goal margin in club history. Their 96th minute goal was also the latest in club history.
With Charlotte trailing 2-0 in the 68th minute, Adilson Malanda headed the ball down off a corner kick to Świderski, who nodded it to himself and unleashed a thunderous volley into the net (Watch Here). After the visitors tied the game 2-2, Charlotte’s McKinze Gaines struck a shot off the crossbar which fell to the Polish forward, who had his own effort blocked. However, he gathered the ball and proceeded to dribble past multiple defenders, opening a small window of space and hitting his shot with just enough power off the goalkeepers’ fingertips, onto the post and into the back of the net for the 96th-minute winner (Watch Here).
Świderski has now scored 10 goals on the season, which is tied for the third most by a first-year MLS player. Świderski leads all Charlotte players in goals (10) and goal contributions (15), while ranking second on the team with five assists. Charlotte now has 38 points (12-17-2) on the season, which is the most by an expansion team since LAFC’s 57 in 2018. The Crown are just the sixth expansion team, excluding the shootout era, to win at least 12 games in their inaugural season.
Świderski is the first Charlotte FC player to win MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire in club history. Charlotte is now the 31st different club in MLS history to have a player earn MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire honors.
Charlotte will look to win double-digit home games when they host the Philadelphia Union at Bank of America Stadium after the international window on Saturday, October 1 (5:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
The MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire is selected each week of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
