After leading the Vancouver Whitecaps to three wins in March, Octavio Rivero has won the Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month award for the first month of the season.

It has been an auspicious start for the Uruguayan in MLS, as Rivero has scored three goals in four games for the Whitecaps to co-lead MLS scoring charts after one month.

The Young Designated Player secured his first career MLS goal in his Whitecaps FC debut on March 7, slipping behind Toronto FC’s backline and slotting a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Joe Bendik.

After tallying game-winning goal the in Vancouver’s 1-0 win over Chicago on March 14, Rivero extended his goalscoring streak to three games with his most stunning strike yet. Mired in a scoreless draw in Orlando City SC on March 21, with the game clock approaching the 97th minute, Rivero acrobatically headed a cross from Pedro Morales into the back of the net, leaving the purple-clad crowd at the Citrus Bowl speechless. The goal was voted as the Goal of the Week for Week 3.

It was an extremely close victory for the 23-year-old, who trumped Kaká once again with a narrow win in the polls over the Orlando midfielder and former World Player of the Year.

Final results for Etihad Airways Player of the Month (March)