Not even lightning and a downpour of rain could cool off Carlos Vela.
Vela had a hand in all four of LAFC's goals in their 4-2 win over the Houston Dynamo in a weather-delayed match Friday, earning the Alcatel MLS Player of the Week award, as voted on by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR), for Week 33 of the MLS season.
LAFC fell behind 1-0 just before the lengthy first-half weather delay, but Vela pulled his side level before halftime. The Mexican international rounded the goalkeeper and drew a penalty, which he then stepped up and buried into the bottom corner.
In the second half, Vela continued to run the show.
Vela got himself in another good position in the box and put an inch-perfect cross directly on Adama Diomande's right foot at the back post for a tap-in to give LAFC the lead. He then registered his second assist of the evening, this time on a corner kick. Walker Zimmerman volleyed home Vela's delivery to double LAFC's advantage.
In the 78th minute, Vela produced a moment of class to complete his brace. He picked up a loose ball after sending Diego Rossi on a breakaway and, without hesitation, executed a perfect lobbed finish with his weak foot before the Dynamo defense could scramble back to the goal line.
Vela now has 13 goals and 12 assists in 26 games this season as he has helped lead LAFC to second place in the Western Conference in their expansion season with two games left in the regular season.
Teammates Adama Diomande and Diego Rossi were the other two LAFC players to win the award earlier this season.
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada.
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