PORTLAND, Ore.– Portland Timbers midfielder Sebastián Blanco was named to the MLS Team of the Week for week 23, the league announced today. The midfielder notched a brace in Portland’s road match against Minnesota United FC on July 30.
Blanco, 34, made history when he opened the scoring in the match with a goal in the first 13 seconds. Blanco’s goal was the fifth-fastest goal scored in MLS history, including playoffs, and the fastest since Justin Meram’s goal after nine seconds in the 2015 playoffs. Blanco is the first player in club history to score multiple goals in consecutive MLS matches against a single opponent (including playoffs) and the first player to do so against Minnesota. The goal was also the fastest by any Timbers player in club history.
The Argentine recorded his second brace of the season, and his sixth brace in MLS competition. This season, Blanco has scored five goals and tallied seven assists in 21 matches played.
The Timbers return to Providence Park for a midweek match against Nashville SC on Wednesday, Aug. 3. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will feature a local broadcast on FOX 12 PLUS with local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
