Justin Meram's three-goal celebration on Saturday in Week 12's showdown against the Montreal Impact has reverberated across Major League Soccer — it was Meram's first career hat-trick, Crew SC's second hat-trick since 2004, the first MLS hat-trick by an Asian International and the list goes on. Meram — who delivered his mother's request for "a goal" in a Crew SC Mother's Day feature — has now capped the week with a MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week recognition.
The 28-year-old midfielder's three goals thrust him into Crew SC's elite six-member 30-goals, 30 assists club — he scored Nos. 29, 30 and 31 on Saturday to join Jeff Cunningham, Brian McBride, Federico Higuain, Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Ethan Finlay. His game-winning performance in Canada earned him his third Acura Man of the Match honor in 2017.
The midfielder scored his first two goals of the match in the first 28 minutes, one from outside the box and another that included volleying over two Montreal defenders before finishing up close. The coupe de grace came in stoppage time when Meram scored his third game winning goal of the season off a give and go assist from midfielder Niko Hansen.
Crew SC next visits New England Revolution on May 21 and Toronto FC on May 26.
The Black & Gold return to MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus to host the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders on May 31.
