The Philadelphia Union were down 2-0 to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday when Ilsinho came off the bench for Jim Curtin's side. The rest, as they say, was history.
The Brazilian engineered a comeback for the hosts, as his two goals and an assist flipped the result to a 3-2 win at Talen Energy Stadium. As a result, Ilsinho was voted MLS Player of the Week for Week 15 of the 2019 MLS regular season.
The rally began with Ilsinho beating a Red Bulls defender on the dribble and hitting a sharp low cross from the right flank, which was turned in by Jamiro Monteiro in the 60th minute to make it 2-1. Two minutes later, Ilsinho dribbled through multiple defenders again, and this time scored the goal himself to make it 2-2.
After Philadelphia earned a penalty, Monteiro stepped up but his attempt was blocked by Luis Robles. Once again, Ilsinho was the man on the spot as he hit the rebound with a one-timer to complete the comeback and make it 3-2 in the 72nd minute.
The 33-year-old, in his fourth season with the Union, has four goals and five assists in 14 league appearances this year, both totals approaching career highs in MLS play. The Brazilian winger, one of the best at dribbling in the league, is coming off the bench to be a late change of pace for the Union, but with performances like that, the role seems to fit like a glove.
The MLS Player of the Week 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.
