
Luca Orellano Named Finalist for 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year
October 24, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
FC Cincinnati's Luca Orellano has been named a finalist for the MLS Newcomer of the Year as Major League Soccer announced today the complete list of finalists for the 2024 MLS Year-End Awards.
Orellano is one of three finalists for the MLS Newcomer of the Year alongside Gabriel Pec from LA Galaxy and Luis Suárez of Inter Miami CF. The award recognizes the year's most impactful new MLS player who has prior professional experience. Orellano joined FC Cincinnati in February on a year-long loan with an option to buy from Brazilian club Club de Regatas (CR) Vasco da Gama.
Orellano has been superb in his debut season with the Orange and Blue, scoring 10 goals and adding seven assists. Orellano appeared in 33 games this season, starting 30 of them. The versatile 24-year-old Argentine has featured primarily as a wingback but also in the central midfield and up top for FC Cincinnati.
Twice this season Orellano was named the MLS Player of the Matchday, first in Matchday 16 for his brace in the dramatic 4-3 win at Toronto FC. He earned his second Player of the Matchday honor in Matchday 30 for his second brace of the year, scoring two free kick goals in the 4-1 win over CF Montréal.
Orellano also twice earned MLS Goal of the Matchday, both for spectacular long-distance goals scored this season, the first against Philadelphia Union on June 19 which beat the keeper from just inside the halfway line. His second against CF Montréal on August 31 was tracked at 79.81 yards, the longest free kick goal since MLS started tracking the stat in 2010.
Orellano's goal against Montréal is a finalist for the AT&T MLS Goal of the Year (vote here) which is decided by online voting at MLSsoccer.com. Voting opened on Monday, October 21 and will close on Monday, Oct. 28, with the winner to be announced Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The honors are in addition to six honors on the MLS Team of the Matchday and in July, Orellano was named to the MLS All-Star Team roster for the 2024 MLS All-Star Game.
No. 3 FC Cincinnati will hold home field advantage against No. 6 New York City FC in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series. FCC will host NYCFC in Game 1 at TQL Stadium on Monday, October 28. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. ET and the match will air on Fox Sports 1 and for free - with no subscription required - on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The match will air over the radio on iHeart Media ESPN 1530 in English and in Spanish on La Mega 101.5 FM.
Tickets for Game 1 and Game 3, if necessary, are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (KICK).
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Major League Soccer Stories from October 24, 2024
- Sounders FC Signs Head Coach Brian Schmetzer to Multiyear Contract Extension - Seattle Sounders FC
- Playoffs Explained: A Colorado Rapids Fans' Guide to the Postseason - Colorado Rapids
- Jackson Ragen Named Finalist for 2024 MLS Defender of the Year - Seattle Sounders FC
- Inter Miami CF to Get Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Campaign Underway against Atlanta United on Friday - Inter Miami CF
- Notebook: Why Luca Orellano Worked at Striker, Could We See It Again, and Teenage Hadebe's Impact on Defense - FC Cincinnati
- Kristijan Kahlina Announced as Finalist for 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year - Charlotte FC
- Luca Orellano Named Finalist for 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year - FC Cincinnati
- Colorado Rapids' Chris Armas Named Finalist for Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year - Colorado Rapids
- Four Inter Miami CF Players and Head Coach 'Tata' Martino Feature as MLS Announces Finalists for 2024 MLS Year-End Awards - Inter Miami CF
- Andrew Farrell Named a Finalist for MLS' Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award - New England Revolution
- Finalists Announced for 2024 MLS Year-End Awards - MLS
- Columbus Crew Honored with Five Finalists for 2024 MLS Year-End Awards - Columbus Crew SC
- New York Red Bulls Midfielder Lewis Morgan Named Finalist for 2024 MLS Comeback Player of the Year - New York Red Bulls
- Match Preview: Atlanta United Faces Inter Miami CF in Game 1 of Round One Best-Of-3 Series - Atlanta United FC
- Midfielder Robin Lod Named Finalist for 2024 MLS Comeback Player of the Year - Minnesota United FC
- Austin FC Agrees to New Contract with Diego Rubio - Austin FC
- Round One Best-Of-3 Series Explained: Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs - Charlotte FC
- Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer Signed to Contract Extension - Seattle Sounders FC
- Houston Dynamo FC Midfielder Coco Carrasquilla Named 2023/2024 Concacaf Player of the Year - Houston Dynamo FC
- Whitecaps Crush Portland to Move on in Playoffs - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Timbers Exit 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs in Wild Card Match against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park - Portland Timbers
- Whitecaps FC to Face Los Angeles FC in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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