Tuesday, August 26, 2003

 

TAMPA, FL - United Soccer Leagues announced today the Team and Player of the Week for the A-League, honoring Pittsburgh's Thiago Martins as the Player of the Week for Week 19 of the season.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds forward Thiago Martins was honored as the Player of the Week for the second straight week after registering three goals and two assists in a pair of thrilling 4-3 matches, which the club split.

In Friday's tilt against the Virginia Beach Mariners, Martins helped the Riverhounds rally from a surprising 4-0 deficit by scoring the second of three goals in the final 15 minutes of the match only to see the club fall short at the final whistle.

In a back-and-forth match Sunday night, Martins turned it on again against division rival Syracuse Salty Dogs with two goals and two assists. He set up Ricardo Villar in the 15th minute for the go-ahead goal. After Syracuse's Ryan Mack leveled the score, Martins would convert a penalty kick in the 36th minute to grab the lead again.

Syracuse's Noah Delgado tied the game again four minutes into the second half only to see Martins set up Joey Worthen in the 64th minute and strike what proved to be the game-winner in the 79th, giving the club its 10th win in the last 12 games.

Martins finished his season leading the league in points and goals with one more week of the regular season left.