San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski a deserved MLS Player of the Week

The case for Chris Wondolowski as MLS Player of the Week for week two of the 2015 regular season is a compelling one. Scoring two goals on the road against the Seattle Sounders to give his team a 3-2 win, its first since August 2 of last season, would be enough for some voters, but it was the complete 90 minute performance from Wondo that separates him from the pack of POTW wannabees.

Blas Perez of FC Dallas scored a pair of goals for his side, but that was at home, and one of them should have been waived off for offside. David Villa was very impressive in the home debut of New York City FC, and the goal scored by the Spanish World Cup winner was a touch of class, but even he would admit he probably should have scored at least one or two more goals. New Philadelphia Union striker Fernando Aristeguieta was a revelation against Real Salt Lake in a 3-3 road draw, but a brace in anything but a victory is not enough for the weekly award.

No, the deserved winner, as determined by voting members of the North American Soccer Reporters and due to be announced on Tuesday morning by MLS, is the Earthquakes designated player and talisman striker Chris Wondolowski. His relentless pressure of the ball when the Sounders gained possession in their own half kept Seattle from building up in the midfield.

His first goal was a composed effort that resulted from his uncanny ability to find spaces in opposing defenses. Marvell Wynne did a great job to chase down a ball at the byline before whipping a cross to the penalty spot that Wondo expertly trapped and slotted home to equalize the score at 1-1.

His second goal was a direct product of his advanced position on the field, as a poor back-pass from centerback Brad Evans allowed Wondolowski enough time to pounce on the miscue and slam the ball into the top netting to give San Jose its first lead of the season.

And Wondolowski was not just getting it done on offense in his efforts to help the Earthquakes snap a 16-game winless streak dating back to last summer. When defender Victor Bernardez was ejected with a straight red card early in the second half, Wondo dropped into a midfield role, constantly working to get back and help defensively when the Sounders gained possession in the Quakes half. The goal scoring hero was even there on the 10th and last corner kick of the game by Seattle to head the delivery away from danger, preserving the important win for San Jose.

Two goals on offense, the 94th and 95th of his MLS career and 8th and 9th against Seattle, and selfless defensive play later in the game highlighted Wondolowski's dominance of the match at CenturyLink Field. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week at forward, but it was his all-around top-notch play that should earn him MLS Player of the Week.