FC Cincinnati wingback Álvaro Barreal has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 16, the league announced Thursday. With the honor, Barreal has been named among the league’s best 11 players for the second time this season (Matchday 9).
Additionally, Luciano Acosta was named to the Team of the Matchday’s bench.
Barreal earned league honors with a spectacular free kick goal in FC Cincinnati’s 3-1 victory against NYCFC at Yankee Stadium. Barreal curled in a rocket from about 25 yards out in the 59th minute, placing the ball perfectly just off the underside of the crossbar to beat goalkeeper Matt Freese. Barreal also earned a secondary assist on Luciano Acosta’s equally spectacular opening goal.
Barreal scored his second goal of the season to go along with five assists in 2023. His five assists lead the team this season.
Barreal provided the sixth multi-goal contribution game for FCC this season, his first. He joined Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez as the only players in club history with at least 10 career goals and 10 career assists for the Orange and Blue.
Not to be outdone, Acosta also scored a beautiful, curled goal in the 38th minute to give FC Cincinnati the lead. It was his team-leading sixth goal of the 2023 MLS campaign, assisted by Barreal and forward Dominique Badji. Acosta has been recognized among the Team of the Matchday four times in the past six matchdays.
The naming of Barreal and Acosta to the MLS Team of the Matchday are the 20th and 21st recognitions of an FC Cincinnati player on the weekly team this season. A full list of 2023 FC Cincinnati weekly honors:
2023 FC Cincinnati MLS Team of the Matchday Player Recognitions
- Obinna Nwobodo (Matchday 1, 3, 13-Bench)
- 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)
- Sergio Santos (9-Bench)
- Luciano Acosta (11-Bench, 13, 14, 16-Bench)
- Roman Celentano (14-Bench)
The full team for Matchday 16 is listed below.
2023 MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (Matchday 16)
F: Dániel Sallói (SKC), Cucho Hernández (CLB), Sunusi Ibrahim (MTL)
M: Carles Gil (NE), Gastón Brugman (LA), Lucas Zelarayán (CLB), Julian Gressel (VAN)
D: Álvaro Barreal (CIN), Julio Cascante (ATX), Calegari (LA)
GK: Daniel (SJ)
Coach: Luchi Gonzalez (SJ)
Bench: Brad Stuver (ATX), Sean Nealis (RBNY), Thiago Almada (ATL), Riqui Puig (LA), Ryan Gauld (VAN), Gadi Kinda (SKC), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Ariel Lassiter (MTL), Brian White (VAN)
