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MLS Charlotte FC

Charlotte FC Captain Ashley Westwood Voted MLS Player of the Matchday

July 15, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Charlotte FC News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - Charlotte FC midfielder ‚ Ashley Westwood was voted MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra for Matchday 23. His three-assist performance helped CLTFC secure a 3-1 away victory against the Supporter's Shield leaders, FC Cincinnati. ‚ ‚

Westwood became the first player in Club history to record three assists in a match. He is now tied for the team lead with five assists on the season.

Charlotte blitzed Cincinnati over the opening 30 minutes, scoring two goals in the space of two minutes. First, Westwood played an inch-perfect, looping cross to Iuri Tavares in the 20th minute for the opening goal. He then engaged the press high up the field, forced a turnover in concert with Brandt Bronico, and immediately playing a well-weighted pass to Liel Abada between the center backs to double Charlotte's lead in the 22nd minute.

After FC Cincinnati pulled a goal back, Charlotte's captain sealed the victory in the second half when he delivered a corner kick right to Kerwin Vargas, who powered his header into the back of the net.

Westwood nearly added a fourth assist on the night, but Andrew Privett's first professional goal was correctly disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review judged him to be offside from Westwood's direct free kick service.

Westwood becomes the fourth different Charlotte FC player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra and the first since Brandon Cambridge on Matchday 13 of 2023. Daniel Rios and Karol Swiderski earned the honor on back-to-back matchdays in 2022. CLTFC is one of five clubs to have four different players named MLS Player of the Matchday since the start of 2022.

Westwood has started and played all 90 minutes in all but one match this season (he missed the loss at Houston Dynamo FC due to yellow card accumulation suspension). The 34-year-old is third in the league in total distance covered (161.2 miles) and anchors a midfield that has helped the defense keep a league-leading nine shutouts.

Westwood spoke to media after the match alongside Head Coach Dean Smith and goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Assets for their post-match availability ‚ can be accessed.

2024 MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Michelob Ultra Winners

Matchday   Player  Club 

Matchdays 1 and 2  Christian Benteke  D.C. United 

Matchday 3  Luis Suárez  Inter Miami CF 

Matchday 4  Giorgos Giakoumakis  Atlanta United 

Matchday 5  Luis Suárez  Inter Miami CF 

Matchday 6  Lewis Morgan  New York Red Bulls 

Matchday 7  Chicho Arango  Real Salt Lake 

Matchday 8  Raúl Ruidíaz  Seattle Sounders FC 

Matchday 9  Lionel Messi  Inter Miami CF 

Matchday 10  Chicho Arango  Real Salt Lake 

Matchday 11  Lionel Messi  Inter Miami CF 

Matchday 12  Lionel Messi  Inter Miami CF 

Matchday 13  Christian Benteke  D.C. United 

Matchday 14  Dénis Bouanga  Los Angeles Football Club 

Matchday 15  Federico Bernardeschi  Toronto FC 

Matchday 16  Luca Orellano  FC Cincinnati 

Matchday 17  Saba Lobjanidze  Atlanta United 

Matchday 18  Chicho Arango  Real Salt Lake 

Matchday 19  Aljaž Ivačič  New England Revolution 

Matchday 20  Yuya Kubo  FC Cincinnati 

Matchday 21  Petar Musa  FC Dallas 

Matchday 22  Cucho Hernández  Columbus Crew 

Matchday 23  Brian White  Vancouver Whitecaps FC 

Matchday 24  Hugo Cuypers  Chicago Fire FC 

Matchday 25  Diego Luna  Real Salt Lake 

Matchday 26  Ashley Westwood  Charlotte FC 

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