Lee Nguyen has been winning things for the New England Revolution down the stretch -- he has a league-high nine game-winning goals this year -- so it's only fitting that he would take home the Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month award for the final month of the season.
But just barely.
Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins, who won the POTM award in September, very nearly pipped Nguyen in October, bolstered by his masterful performances in the club's final two matches, which helped them win their first-ever Supporters' Shield.
But Nguyen, 28, had too much going for him. He absolutely crushed it in October, scoring five goals to lead the Revs to a 3-0-1 during the month and help them secure the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference for the MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T.
His five strikes in October, including this smooth AT&T Goal of the Week winner, brought his season tally to 18, fourth most in the MLS and the most ever in MLS by a pure midfielder.
Final results for Etihad Airways Player of the Month (October)
- Lee Nguyen (NE) 47%
- Obafemi Martins (SEA) 45%
- Kendall Waston (VAN) 4%
- Ethan Finlay (CLB) 2%
- Rodney Wallace (POR) 2%
