TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week Presented by Cleer Audio for Week 12 of the 2021 regular season on Tuesday, with Memphis 901 FC goalkeeper Kyle Morton voted Player of the Week after recording an eight-save shutout in his side’s 1-0 victory against Birmingham Legion FC at BBVA Field on Saturday night.
A finalist for the Championship’s Goalkeeper of the Year award the past two seasons, Morton joined Memphis on loan from Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo FC this past week and shone in his first game of the 2021 campaign. Morton’s performance allowed Kyle Murphy’s early second-half goal to stand as the winner as 901 FC took its first victory on the road against rival Birmingham in its club history, while also pulling Memphis within three points of the playoff positions in the Championship’s Central Division.
Morton earned 71 percent of the ballot to claim the honor. Orange County SC’s Chris Wehan finished second on 19 percent after leading his side with a goal and assist in a 2-0 victory on the road against Sacramento Republic FC last Saturday night.
The Championship’s Player of the Week is selected by the USL National Media Panel, which is made up of representatives from each media market in the Championship.
GK – Kyle Morton, Memphis 901 FC: Kyle Morton recorded an eight-save shutout as Memphis took a 1-0 victory against Central Division-leader Birmingham Legion FC in its first road victory at BBVA Field in its history.
D – Tony Leone, Las Vegas Lights FC: Tony Leone’s first goal for Lights FC proved the winner as the side rallied for a 2-1 win against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night, and the center back also won 9 of 10 duels, 6 of 6 aerial duels and completed 50 of 57 passes.
D – Eder Borelli, El Paso Locomotive FC: Eder Borelli recorded one assist and three key passes in Locomotive FC’s 3-1 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on Friday night and won 7 of 9 duels while completing 42 of 50 passes overall.
D – Nathan Smith, Orange County SC: Nathan Smith helped Orange County record a pair of shutouts against Tacoma Defiance and Sacramento Republic FC, while against Sacramento he notched one assist, two key passes and completed 66 of 73 passes overall.
M – Isidro Martinez, New Mexico United: Isidro Martinez sparked New Mexico after coming on as a second-half substitute with half-an-hour to go, recording the assist on both of United’s late goals and notching six key passes overall in a 3-1 win against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.
M – Daniel Crisostomo, Las Vegas Lights FC: Daniel Crisostomo scored the opening goal in Las Vegas’ 2-1 comeback victory against Oakland Roots SC on Saturday night and had two key passes while completing 49 of 54 passes overall in the win.
M – Chris Wehan, Orange County SC: Chris Wehan led OCSC to its third victory against Sacramento Republic FC this season with a goal and assist in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Heart Health Park while also completing 24 of 27 passes and recording three key passes overall.
M – Christiano Francois, Miami FC: Christiano Francois recorded a goal and assist, had three key passes while completing 16 of 20 passes overall, and completed three dribbles and made four recoveries in Miami’s 4-1 win against Loudoun United FC on Sunday.
F – Rodrigo da Costa, FC Tulsa: Rodrigo da Costa continued his strong run of form with a goal and assist in Tulsa’s 3-2 victory against Louisville City FC on Saturday while also recording five key passes and winning 5 of 9 duels.
F – Omar Sowe, New York Red Bulls II: Omar Sowe recorded two goals and one assist across two games while also notching five key passes as the Red Bulls II took victory against the Charlotte Independence and drew with Hartford Athletic over the week.
F – Luis Solignac, El Paso Locomotive FC: Luis Solignac recorded a goal and assist to lead El Paso’s attack in a 3-1 victory against Real Monarchs SLC on Friday night, had three key passes overall and also won both of his aerial duels on the night.
Bench: Eric Dick (IND), Mohamed Traore (LV), Jordan Scarlett (TBR), Thomas Janjigian (HFD), Marcelo Palomino (CLT), Ariel Martinez (MIA), Dane Kelly (CLT)
Tag(s): News Team of the Week Videos Orange County SC FC Tulsa Charlotte Independence New York Red Bulls II Tampa Bay Rowdies Dane Kelly Kyle Morton Chris Wehan Jordan Scarlett Thomas Janjigian Christiano François Nathan Smith Las Vegas Lights FC Indy Eleven Memphis 901 FC El Paso Locomotive FC Eric Dick New Mexico United Hartford Athletic Isidro Martinez Daniel Crisostomo Rodrigo Da Costa Omar Sowe Miami FC Luis Solignac Ariel Martinez Marcelo Palomino Eder Borelli