Giovinco nabs Player of the Week honors

Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco's two-goal performance in a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Fire was good enough to earn the Italian star MLS Player of the Week honors.

The award, which is determined by a panel from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR), was revealed by TFC on Tuesday.

Giovinco is the eighth player to win the accolade this season, joining Nemanja Nikolic (Chicago), Albert Rusnak (Real Salt Lake), Cubo Torres (Houston Dynamo), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Maxi Urruti (FC Dallas), Josef Martinez (Atlanta United), and Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers).

Friday's display was Giovinco's 10th multi-goal performance with TFC, and it was a pivotal result for both player and club as the Italian doubled his goal tally while Greg Vanney's lot surged up the Eastern Conference standings after a rocky start rife with draws.

For the pint-sized attacker, it wasn't just about the goals, but how they were scored. If the first was a reminder that few in the North American top flight can create a goal from nothing in open play, the second was an indication that few are better at dead-ball situations than the former Juventus striker.

Giovinco, 30, wins the distinction for a sixth time, with the Italian the ninth player in club history to do so. Amado Guevara, Chad Barrett, Dwayne De Rosario, Joao Plata, Danny Koevermans, Robert Earnshaw, Jermain Defoe, and Jozy Altidore have all won the accolade with Toronto.