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Columbus Crew Forward Cucho Hernández Voted MLS Player of the Matchday Presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 30

September 5, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK - Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 30 of the 2023 MLS season.

Hernández scored his first career hat trick in the Crew's 4-2 victory over CF Montréal at Stade Saputo on Saturday, September 2. The Colombian international became the ninth player in club history to score a regular season hat trick and the first to do so since Gyasi Zardes on October 28, 2018, against Minnesota United FC. Since making his MLS debut on July 9, 2022, Hernández has produced 31 goal contributions (18 goals, 13 assists), which is tied for the fifth most in MLS during that time. With nine goals and 10 assists in 2023, Hernández needs one goal to become just the fourth player in club history with at least double-digit goals and assists in a single season.

After the Crew jumped out to a 1-0 lead, Hernández doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute when he raced on to Diego Rossi's cross and scored with a diving header (Watch Here). The Colombian made it 3-0 in the 43rd minute as he calmly poked home Yaw Yeboah's pass from just outside the six-yard-box (Watch Here ). Montréal managed to add a goal in the second half, but Hernández wrapped up all three points when he earned a penalty kick on the edge of the box. The Crew forward completed his hat trick in the 65th minute from the penalty spot by sending the Montréal goalkeeper the wrong way and placing his finish in the open net (Watch Here).

This is the first time Hernández has been named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire in his career and he is the second Crew player to do so this season (Lucas Zelarayán on Matchday 2). Hernández is the first Colombian player to win the award since Jhon Durán (Chicago Fire FC) took home the honor on Matchday 20 of 2022.

Columbus will return to action after the FIFA international window when they travel to face Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium on Matchday 31 on Saturday, September 16 (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.

2023 MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire Winners

Matchday Player Club

Matchday 1 Thiago Almada Atlanta United

Matchday 2 Lucas Zelarayán Columbus Crew

Matchday 3 Caleb Wiley Atlanta United

Matchday 4 Thiago Almada Atlanta United

Matchday 5 Jordan Morris Seattle Sounders FC

Matchday 6 Simon Becher Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Matchday 7 Dénis Bouanga Los Angeles Football Club

Matchday 8 Carlos Vela Los Angeles Football Club

Matchday 9 Mikael Uhre Philadelphia Union

Matchday 10 Leonardo Campana Inter Miami CF

Matchday 11 Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC

Matchday 12 Evander Portland Timbers

Matchday 13 Brandon Cambridge Charlotte FC

Matchday 14 Luciano Acosta FC Cincinnati

Matchday 15 Julián Carranza Philadelphia Union

Matchday 16 Carles Gil New England Revolution

Matchday 17 Julián Carranza Philadelphia Union

Matchday 18 Alan Pulido Sporting Kansas City

Matchday 19 Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC

Matchday 20 Damir Kreilach Real Salt Lake

Matchday 21 Ryan Gauld Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Matchday 22 Randall Leal Nashville SC

Matchday 23 Riqui Puig LA Galaxy

Matchday 24 Léo Chú Seattle Sounders FC

Matchday 25 Dániel Gazdag Philadelphia Union

Matchday 26 Diego Luna Real Salt Lake

Matchday 27 Giorgos Giakoumakis Atlanta United

Matchday 28 Thiago Almada Atlanta United

Matchday 29 Emanuel Reynoso Minnesota United FC

Matchday 30 Cucho Hernández Columbus Crew

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