MLS FC Cincinnati

Luciano Acosta, Álvaro Barreal and Pat Noonan Recognized on MLS Team of the Matchday

Published on August 31, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release


Following FC Cincinnati's comeback 2-1 win over Atlanta United FC Wednesday night, Head Coach Pat Noonan, Luciano Acosta and Álvaro Barreal have all been recognized on the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 29, the league announced Thursday.

Noonan's honor is his first Coach of the Matchday recognition of FC Cincinnati's 2023 Supporters' Shield-leading campaign. With his team's come-from-behind win on Wednesday night, the club's first win in six tries at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, FC Cincinnati became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2023 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

The recognition is Noonan's third-career Coach of the Week/Matchday honor (2022 Weeks 3, 10).

Acosta has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for the 10th time this season. The 2023 Landon Donovan MVP candidate has been named to consecutive Team of the Matchdays and to four of the past six league-wide teams.

Acosta's superb 75th minute goal equalized for FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night in Atlanta. Five minutes later, he was credited with an assist for starting the buildup for Brandon Vazquez's game-winning goal. The performance marked his MLS-best eighth game of multiple goal contributions (goals or assists) and his MLS-best fifth game of at least one goal and one assist.

The Argentine leads MLS with 24 goal contributions and his 13 goals are tied atop the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi leaderboard with Nashville's Hany Mukhtar.

Álvaro Barreal has been named to the Team of the Matchday for the sixth time in 2023. His sixth assist of this season came in the 80th minute, a perfect delivery into the box for Brandon Vazquez's game-winning goal in Wednesday's win over Atlanta.

Barreal was also a key part of FC Cincinnati's backline that held Atlanta's potent attack in check over the match's final ten minutes. The Orange and Blue held the 5-Stripes to just one shot on goal.

The recognitions of Noonan, Acosta and Barreal are the 33rd, 34th and 35th of an FC Cincinnati player or coach on the weekly MLS Team of the Matchday. A full list of 2023 FC Cincinnati matchday honors:

2023 FC Cincinnati MLS Team of the Matchday Player Recognitions

- Obinna Nwobodo (Matchday 1, 3, 13-Bench, 25)

- Brenner (3-Bench)

- Junior Moreno (4)

- Matt Miazga (5-Bench, 7, 15-Bench)

- Brandon Vazquez (5-Bench)

- Yerson Mosquera (6, 10)

- Álvaro Barreal (6-Bench, 9, 11-Bench, 16, 24-Bench, 29)

- Sergio Santos (9-Bench)

- Luciano Acosta (11-Bench, 13, 14, 16-Bench, 17-Bench, 20, 24, 26, 28, 29)

- Roman Celentano (14-Bench, 20, 28-Bench)

- Dominique Badji (22)

- Santiago Arias (26-Bench)

2023 FC Cincinnati MLS Coach of the Matchday Recognitions

- Pat Noonan (29)

The full team for Matchday 29 is listed below.

2023 MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (Matchday 29)

F: Deandre Kerr (TOR), Santiago Moreno (POR)

M: Riqui Puig (LA), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Héctor Herrera (HOU), Emanuel Reynoso (MIN)

D: Álvaro Barreal (CIN), Kamal Miller (MIA), Birk Risa (NYC), Matt Polster (NE)

GK: Stefan Frei (SEA)

Coach: Pat Noonan (CIN)

Bench: Elliot Panicco (NSH), Josh Yaro (STL), Juan Mosquera (POR), Alonso Coello (TOR), Brian Anunga (NSH), Eduard Löwen (STL), Nicolás Lodeiro (SEA), Ryan Gauld (VAN), Lorenzo Insigne (TOR)

FC Cincinnati return home to TQL Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 2 to take on Orlando City SC at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are still available for the match and can be purchased at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets. The match will also stream live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App and fans can listen in locally on ESPN 1530.

FC Cincinnati's full 2023 regular season schedule can be viewed HERE. Fans can visit HERE for FC Cincinnati's 2023 home platform match schedule. FC Cincinnati matches air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, the unprecedented subscription service features every MLS regular season, playoff and Leagues Cup match.

Single Match Tickets can be purchased now at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK). For more information about Group Tickets and Premium hospitality options, including suites and all-inclusive experiences, call (513) 763-1025.

For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team's official website at fccincinnati.com, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. Additionally, fans are encouraged to download the team's new official mobile app on iOS or Android for instant access to mobile tickets, team content and match notifications.

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