LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, May 31, 2022) – LA Galaxyforward Dejan Joveljić was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire for the 14th week of the 2022 MLS season. Joveljić became the first player in MLS history to provide four goal contributions (two goals, two assists) as a substitute in the Galaxy’s 4-1 comeback win over Austin FC. It marked the first time a Galaxy player had four goal contributions in a match since Zlatan Ibrahimović on July 29, 2018. His four goal contributions off the bench equaled his total amount of contributions from the 2021 season, which he accomplished in 14 games. Joveljić and Portland Timbers midfielder Sebastián Blanco are the only players to provide at least two goals and two assists in a game this season.With the Galaxy trailing 1-0, Joveljić was substituted on in the 57th minute and immediately contributed four minutes later by receiving Julián Araujo’s cross and providing a delicate backheel flick for Javier “Chicharito” Hernández to slot into the side netting (Watch Here). In the 64th minute, the Serbian scored his first goal of the game after controlling the ball with his chest off an Austin defender’s scuffed clearance and volleying it into the net for a 2-1 lead (Watch Here). The substitute was not done as he slipped by the defense in the 88th minute, chipping the ball over the goalkeeper and sliding defender for his second goal of the game (Watch Here). Joveljić finished his historic performance in style with a phenomenal bicycle kick assist near midfield to find Efraín Álvarez in plenty of space for a 90th minute goal and a 4-1 Galaxy victory (Watch Here).With his performance, Joveljić helped the Galaxy score four goals in a game for the first time since July 30, 2021. Additionally, Joveljić became just the fifth Galaxy player since 2010 to post at least four goal contributions in a match, joining Ibrahimović, Giovani dos Santos, Robbie Keane (three times) and Landon Donovan (three times).Joveljić is the second Galaxy player to win MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire this year, joining Chicharito in Week 5. He is also the first substitute to earn the award since New England’s Adam Buksa in Week 32 of the 2021 season. Joveljić became the first Galaxy substitute to be named MLS Player of the Week since Ibrahimović did so in Week 5 of 2018 after scoring two goals in the first 19 minutes of his career.The Galaxy will look to win consecutive home games when they return after the international window to host the Portland Timbers at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, June 18 (2 p.m. PT, ESPN / ESPN Deportes).The MLS Player of the Week presented by Continental Tire 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.
