NEW YORK (Thursday, May 19, 2022) – San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Jamiro Monteiro was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire for the 12th week of the 2022 MLS season.
Monteiro orchestrated a comeback victory for the Earthquakes by scoring two goals, including the game-winner in San Jose’s 3-2 win over the Portland Timbers. It marked the first-career brace for Monteiro in an MLS game, achieving the feat in just his 11th game with the Quakes since joining prior to the season. He has now recorded at least six goal contributions in each of his four MLS seasons, dating back to 2019.
With the game tied 1-1 in the 44th minute, Monteiro received a pass after a nearly 40-yard run from Cade Cowell and struck a one-timed, curling effort around the goalkeeper to give the Earthquakes the lead (Watch Here). The Timbers tied the game in the 56th minute, but Monteiro proved to be the difference maker again just 10 minutes from the full-time whistle. Jeremy Ebobisse’s blocked shot deflected to the middle of the six-yard box where Monteiro quickly reacted and lunged to poke the ball home for the game-winning goal in the 80th minute (Watch Here).
With his performance, Monteiro helped the Earthquakes score at least three goals for the fifth time this season, becoming the only team in MLS to reach that mark in 2022. The Cape Verde international scored the third game-winning goal of his career and his first since June 23, 2021, versus the Columbus Crew when he was a member of the Philadelphia Union.
Monteiro is the second Earthquakes player to win MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire this year, joining Cristian Espinoza in Week 8. This is the first time Monteiro has won a Player of the Week award and San Jose is the only team to have multiple players earn that distinction in 2022.
San Jose will look for their fourth consecutive home win when they host Sporting Kansas City at PayPal Park on Sunday, May 22 (7:30 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.
