Sporting Kansas City Forward Johnny Russell Voted MLS Player of the Matchday Presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 38
Published on October 23, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 38 of the 2023 MLS season.
Russell scored two goals in the club's 3-1 victory over Minnesota United FC on Saturday, October 21, which helped the club clinch a spot in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. With his brace, Russell produced his seventh career multi-goal game, tying Preki for the third-most multi-goal games in Sporting Kansas City history. The forward has scored in each of his last three matches, which marks his first three-game scoring streak since an eight-game stretch in 2021. Russell finished the 2023 regular season with eight goals - his third consecutive season hitting the back of the net at least eight times. The Scotsman joins Dom Dwyer (2014-16) and Preki (1996-98) as the only players in club history to accomplish this feat.
Russell opened the scoring in the 28th minute when he dribbled at a Minnesota defender, cut onto his left foot, and fired a curling effort into the side-netting to give the home side a 1-0 advantage. After Kansas City and Minnesota exchanged goals, Russell solidified all three points and a 3-1 victory in the 78th minute. The forward chased down a Loons defender and blocked the clearance into the air, which he volleyed home from short range to seal a postseason spot.
Russell is the second Kansas City player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire this season, joining Alan Pulido on Matchday 18. This is the fourth time Russell has earned the honor in his career, joining Chris Klein (five), Preki (five), and Josh Wolff (six) as the only players with at least four Player of the Matchday awards in Sporting Kansas City history.
Kansas City, the No. 8 seed, will host the Western Conference Wild Card match against No. 9 San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, October 25 (9:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) with the opportunity to face No. 1 St. Louis CITY SC in the Round One Best-of-3 Series on the line.
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
Matchday 35 João Klauss St. Louis CITY SC
Matchday 36 Dénis Bouanga Los Angeles Football Club
Matchday 37 Teemu Pukki Minnesota United FC
Matchday 38 Johnny Russell Sporting Kansas City
Major League Soccer Stories from October 23, 2023
- LA Galaxy Part Ways with Designated Player Douglas Costa - LA Galaxy
- Rapids Celebrate End-Of-The-Year Honors at Annual Gala, a Burgundy Affair - Colorado Rapids
- MLS Disciplinary Committee Decisions Announced - MLS
- Johnny Russell Honored as MLS Player of the Matchday - Sporting Kansas City
- Sporting Kansas City Forward Johnny Russell Voted MLS Player of the Matchday Presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 38 - MLS
- Sporting KC Weekly - Sporting Kansas City
- Charlotte FC Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina and Forward Kerwin Vargas Named to MLS Team of the Matchday - Charlotte FC
- Earthquakes Forward Cristian Espinoza Selected to MLS Team of the Matchday - San Jose Earthquakes
- Griffin Dorsey and Adalberto Carrasquilla Named to MLSSoccer.com's Team of the Matchday Roster - Houston Dynamo FC
- Bernard Kamungo Named to MLSsoccer.com's Team of the Matchday Following Road Win at LA Galaxy - FC Dallas
- Crew Hold Homefield Advantage, First Postseason Matches at Lower.com Field in Round One of Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs - Columbus Crew SC
- LA Galaxy Announce 2023 Team Awards - LA Galaxy
- Nashville Soccer Club Introduces "Treble Trouble" as New Mascot in Partnership with Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee - Nashville SC
- Sarah Kate Noftsinger Returns to Atlanta United as VP, Chief Business Officer - Atlanta United FC
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