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Philadelphia Union Midfielder Dániel Gazdag Voted MLS Player of the Matchday Presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 25

July 13, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK - Philadelphia Union midfielder Dániel Gazdag was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 25 of the 2023 MLS season.

Gazdag scored twice from the penalty spot in the club's 2-0 victory against Nashville SC at GEODIS Park on Wednesday, July 12. By scoring both goals in the match from the penalty spot, Gazdag improved his conversion rate to 16-of-16 in his MLS career, which is now the second-longest in MLS history by a player to start his MLS career, behind only Nicolás Lodeiro (18 straight). The Hungarian now has eight penalty kick goals this season, becoming just the fifth player in MLS history to reach the milestone, and the first since Ola Kamara in 2021 (nine). Overall, Gazdag is one penalty kick shy of tying the MLS single-season record of nine, which is held by three different players.

Philadelphia opened the scoring in the 40th minute when Gazdag stepped up to the penalty spot, sent Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to the right, and then slotted his effort into the right corner for a 1-0 lead (Watch Here). The Union then earned another penalty late in the second half when Mikael Uhre was taken down in the box. Gazdag took the penalty kick again, but this time going left in the 84th minute and finding the side netting to earn a 2-0 victory (Watch Here).

Gazdag becomes the third different Union player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire this season, joining Julián Carranza (Matchdays 15 and 17) and Mikael Uhre (Matchday 8). Philadelphia is the only team to win four MLS Player of the Matchday honors this season and they have now accumulated seven accolades across the last two seasons. Gazdag is the fourth player in club history to earn the honor multiple times in his career (Matchday 27 in 2022).

Philadelphia will look to win consecutive matches when they host New York City FC at Subaru Park on Matchday 26 this Saturday, July 15 (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

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