May 31, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. – The USL Championship announced the Team of the Week for Week 12 of the 2022 regular season on Tuesday, with New Mexico United midfielder Justin Portillo voted the Championship Player of the Week presented by Konami eFootball after recording three goals and one assist across two victories for United that moved the side into the playoff positions in the Western Conference.
An offseason arrival from Real Salt Lake, Portillo currently leads the USL Championship with 35 chances created this season and bagged his first two goals for New Mexico as well as one assist on Tuesday night as the side took victory against Phoenix Rising FC. The 29-year-old then added a brilliant finish to open the scoring in New Mexico’s 2-1 win on Saturday evening against Indy Eleven, a result that completed an undefeated five-game month for the side.
Portillo earned 80 percent of the ballot to claim the award. Louisville City FC’s Cameron Lancaster finished second on 20 percent as he recorded a pair of goals in his return to the starting lineup after a preseason injury on Saturday to lead LouCity to a 4-1 victory against FC Tulsa at Lynn Family Stadium.
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 – Evan Newton, El Paso Locomotive FC: Newton posted a six-save shutout and a Goals Minus Expected Goals mark of -1.46 to help a 10-man Locomotive FC take a 1-0 victory on the road at Las Vegas Lights FC on Friday night.
D – Junior Palacios, Miami FC: Palacios scored the opening goal for Miami in a 2-2 draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and won 8 of 9 duels and 3 of 4 aerial duels while completing 43 of 59 passes at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
D – Mitchell Taintor, San Antonio FC: Taintor scored once in SAFC’s 3-2 victory against Rio Grande Valley FC and won 10 of 14 duels, 4 of 6 aerial duels and 2…