NEW YORK (Monday, September 25, 2023) – FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 34 of the 2023 MLS season.
Acosta provided a goal and an assist in FC Cincinnati’s 3-0 victory over Charlotte FC at TQL Stadium on Saturday, September 23. With 15 goals this season, Acosta is currently tied atop the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race, alongside Atlanta United’s Giorgos Giakoumakis and Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar. Acosta’s 27 goal contributions (15 goals, 12 assists) are currently the most in MLS this season and are two shy of the single-season club record of 29 that he set last season. The Argentine’s performance helped Cincinnati to their 13th home victory of the year, which is tied for third-most home wins in a single regular season in MLS history.
Midfielder Álvaro Barreal scored early for FC Cincinnati in first-half stoppage time on a sensational free-kick goal that slotted home in the right upper corner of the net to give the home side a 1-0 advantage (Watch Here). Aaron Boupendza doubled their lead five minutes after halftime as Acosta stole the ball from a defender and found the Gabonese forward in the middle of the box, who perfectly placed his one-timed finish in the corner of the net (Watch Here). Acosta scored the final goal of the night for the Eastern Conference leaders in the 78th minute after his sensational solo run saw him evade multiple Charlotte defenders before slotting home his effort (Watch Here).
Acosta becomes the fifth player in 2023 to earn multiple MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire honors, joining Thiago Almada (three), Leonardo Campana, Julián Carranza, and Hany Mukhtar. Since the start of 2018, Acosta has won the award four different times, which is tied for the fifth-most among active MLS players.
Cincinnati will look to continue their pursuit of the 2023 Supporters’ Shield when they travel to face Toronto FC at BMO Field on Matchday 35 on Saturday, September 30 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
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