LOS ANGELES (Monday, April 19, 2021) – LA Galaxy forward Javier Hernández was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 1 of the 2021 MLS season.
Hernández led the Galaxy to a 3-2 win over Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, on Sunday afternoon with a two-goal outing in the MLS season opener for both clubs.
With his club trailing 1-0 after halftime, Hernández took a low cross from Ethan Zubak in the center of the area, and with a neat half-turn around his marker, set the ball for a low angled drive past the goalkeeper to level the score in the 62nd minute (WATCH HERE). Then with the Galaxy again behind by a goal, Hernández ghosted in at the back post and was in the right place to punch home a miscleared cross from nearly on the goal line to again pull his side even in the 73rd minute (WATCH HERE). He was named MLS Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
In an emotional interview on ABC Sports following the match, Hernández said: “I’m holding my tears. I suffered the loss of my grandfather, I would love him to keep watching [me] scoring goals. I’m very touched because, like I told you, last season was very difficult. I miss him so much and these goals are for him, my kids, my whole family, my friends, everyone. I maintain patience, I keep grinding and thankfully things are coming around and hopefully, like I say, I just want to be a part of an unbelievable season and lift the trophy.”
The Galaxy return to action this weekend on national television, when they take on the New York Red Bulls in their home opener at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. ET (FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN).
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.
