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MLS Hustler of the Week: Darlington Nagbe, Portland Timbers

Darlington Nagbe has been awarded Hustle Belt's first MLS Player of the Week (Hustle Edition)! Yay!!! *Fireworks explode over Providence Park*

Darlington Nagbe fends off a Galaxy defender while dribbling during the Portland-L.A. game on Sunday.
Darlington Nagbe fends off a Galaxy defender while dribbling during the Portland-L.A. game on Sunday.
Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the very first, highly-coveted Major League Soccer Hustler of the Week Award.

Like any arbitrary, weekly award, this is given to the best player of the week, with a twist.

It is given to a former MAC player currently playing in our domestic soccer league. For this week, this coveted award, our first one ever, goes to the Portland Timbers' Darlington Nagbe.

The former Akron star followed his coach, Caleb Porter, to Portland and he has had a few amazing years there. But this game was especially good for the attacking midfielder.

First, he flicked a flashy back-heel pass to Rodney Wallace, who shoveled the ball over the top of the L.A. Galaxy defense and set up the Timbers' first goal for Fanendo Adi. For that, we will credit him with a hockey-style assist, but still assign him some major flair points.

But the second goal was vintage Nagbe. He charged into the Galaxy's penalty area, fended off multiple L.A. defenders and neatly passed the ball to his far post, where Adi was there to slot it home for what appeared to be the winning goal in the 90th minute.

While Portland did concede after that to draw its second game of the season, Nagbe looked great in possession, always looked a threat going forward and looked to have returned to the form of 2013, where he recorded nine goals and four assists.

After his star-studded appearance on Sunday, he deserves Hustle Belt's first-ever MLS Hustler of the Week.