FC Cincinnati Midfielder Luciano Acosta Voted MLS Player of the Matchday Presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 34
Published on September 25, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - 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. 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. 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.
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.
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
Matchday 31 Leonardo Campana Inter Miami CF
Matchday 32 Ramiro Enrique Orlando City SC
Matchday 33 Billy Sharp LA Galaxy
Matchday 34 Luciano Acosta FC Cincinnati
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