NEW YORK (Thursday, July 6, 2023) – LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 23 of the 2023 MLS season.
Puig provided the game-winning goal and an assist in the club’s 2-1 victory over LAFC at the Rose Bowl Stadium in front of an MLS single-game record 82,110 fans. The Spanish midfielder became the fifth player in Galaxy history to score at least one goal and record at least one assist in El Tráfico, joining teammate Tyler Boyd, who also did so in the match. Boyd and Puig became the first pair of teammates to each score at least one goal and add one assist in an El Tráfico. A 2023 MLS All-Star, Puig leads the Galaxy with 36 chances created and has completed the second most passes (1,223) in the league.
The Galaxy struck first in the 26th minute when Puig spun away from a defender and picked out Boyd with a pass, who curled his effort from just outside the 18-yard box into the top corner of the net (Watch Here). After LAFC equalized in the second half, Puig scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute on the counterattack. Boyd dribbled down the left wing, while Puig sprinted over 60 yards to get in position to tap home the cross from a few yards away (Watch Here).
Puig becomes the first Galaxy player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire since Dejan Joveljić on Matchday 14 of 2022. The Spaniard is also the third player in Galaxy history to earn the honor due to his performance in El Tráfico, joining Zlatan Ibrahimović (twice) and Sebastian Lletget (Matchday 10 of 2020).
The Galaxy look to extend their six-game unbeaten run when they host the Philadelphia Union at Dignity Health Sports Park on Matchday 24 this Saturday, July 8 (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 23 was selected by media voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprised the entire vote for Matchday 23. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
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