Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) forward Adama Diomande was voted the MLS Player of the Month presented by EA SPORTS™ by members of the media for the month of June of the 2018 MLS season, becoming the first player in Club history to win the award.
The 28-year-old forward notched seven goals in his first five MLS regular season matches, the most of any player in the league’s 23-year history after five games played. In his first season in MLS, Diomande has seven goals and two assists, with all seven goals scored during the month of June. Both assists came during LAFC’s 2-2 draw against the Houston Dynamo on July 3.
Diomande scored his first career MLS goal in a 2-1 loss at FC Dallas on June 2, but helped LAFC rebound with a brace in a 4-3 road victory over San Jose Earthquakes on June 9. Diomande scored in the 15th minute, then followed it up with an 89th-minute equalizer to bring the match to 3-3. Two weeks later, the forward earned a goal in the 8th minute in LAFC's 2-0 home victory over Columbus Crew SC on June 23.
In the last game of the month, Diomande scored the first hat-trick in the history of the Club in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union at Banc of California Stadium. He opened the scoring in the 25th minute. The newcomer then doubled the lead in the 43rd minute with a quick tap-in in front of goal. To complete his hat-trick, Diomande brought the score to 3-1 in the 55th minute, slamming home a loose ball inside the six-yard box.
MLS Player of the Month presented by EA SPORTS™ is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
LAFC (9-4-4; 31 points) returns home this Saturday, July 7 to take on Orlando City SC at Banc of California Stadium (8:00 p.m. PT, FS1).
