Stéfano Pinho Named NASL Player of the Week
Stéfano Pinho led Miami FC with four goals over the weekend as the club clinched the Spring League title. After his four-goal effort, Pinho moved into a tie for the league lead in goals with teammate Vincenzo Rennella. Both players have recorded eight goals in the Spring Season with one match remaining.
NASL Soccer News: Miami FC forward Stéfano Pinho has received North American Soccer League (NASL) Player of the Week honors after scoring four goals in a 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Deltas on Saturday night. The win clinched the Spring Season title for Miami – the club’s first trophy in franchise history.
The São João Nepomuceno, Brazil, native scored twice in the first 15 minutes and later scored twice in the final 15 minutes of the match in a rout of the Deltas. Pinho became the second player in league history to score four goals in a game – NASL all-time leading scorer Pablo Campos tallied four in 2012.
With a win earning the club silverware and the right to host a semifinal game, Miami came out of the gates flying at Riccardo Silva Stadium. Dylan Mares opened the scoring after five minutes of play before assisting Pinho’s first tally of the night just five minutes later. In the 15th minute, Blake Smith sent in a low cross and Pinho tapped home from just outside the six-yard box.
Mares added another goal just before the halftime whistle and Ariel Martínez scored shortly into the second half with an impressive effort from outside the box. From then on, it was Pinho taking a starring role again with two more goals. Martínez played Jaime Chávez into the box as the forward sent a square pass to an unmarked Pinho to record his hat-trick. The Brazilian notched a record-tying fourth goal in the 90th minute after Michael Lahoud played a through ball for the Brazilian to run onto before supplying the finish.
Now in his third campaign in the NASL, Pinho has been a consistent goal scorer. The forward claimed Golden Boot and Golden Ball honors in the 2015 season after scoring 16 goals for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Last season, Pinho tallied five goals for Minnesota United.
Pinho initially came to the NASL on loan from Brazilian side Fluminense before signing a permanent deal with Minnesota ahead of the 2016 season.
Up next for Miami is a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup clash on Wednesday night against FC Cincinnati of USL. That match kicks off at Riccardo Silva Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Photo Credit: North American Soccer League
