NEW YORK(Tuesday, March 29, 2016) – FC Dallas midfielder Michael Barrios was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the fourth week of the 2016 MLS season.
With numerous FC Dallas players out on international duty, Barrios stepped up in a huge way, scoring two goals in a dominating 3-0 victory over host D.C. United. The two goals were Barrios’ first of his 2016 campaign and his second career brace for an FC Dallas squad that sits tied atop the Western Conference standings with nine points (3-1-0).
Barrios quickly quieted the crowd at RFK Stadium registering his first goal of the match in the 14th minute. After two D.C. United defenders failed to control the ball in their own half, Barrios recovered possession, dribbling just inside the penalty area before sending a whirling shot into the bottom left corner of the net to give Dallas a 1-0 advantage (Watch Goal).
FC Dallas got on the board again in the 28th minute when Mauro Diaz sprung Barrios who found a seam up the middle of the field before sending a sleek chip shot over sliding D.C. United goalkeeper Travis Worra (Watch Goal). The 24-year-old Colombian nearly registered the first hat trick of his career, breaking free in front of goal in the 49th minute and stretching out for a soft arching shot that was quickly plucked by Worra (Watch Shot).
FC Dallas returns to the friendly confines of Toyota Stadium for its next match against defending Eastern Conference champion Columbus Crew SC this Saturday (9 p.m. ET., MLS LIVE).
The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.