FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 13, the league announced Thursday. The honor is Acosta’s second recognition of the season among the league’s weekly best players, his first among the best 11.
Additionally, Obinna Nwobodo was named to the Team of the Matchday’s bench.
Acosta scored his third goal of the season, his second in as many league games, to start his fourth-separate goal streak with FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night against CF Montréal. Acosta’s 26th minute goal was a superb individual effort, which began outside the box where he then dribbled between two Montréal defenders, and in tight space finished off FCC’s second goal of the night in the 3-0 win.
GOAL | Luciano Acosta, FC Cincinnati - 26th minute
The captain was a chance-creator all night, leading all players with touches in the opposing box (10), passes in the final third (20) and total duels (20). No Cincinnati player had more touches on the ball than Acosta’s 75, and his three chances created co-led the team with Obinna Nwobodo.
Acosta’s recognition marks the 13th time since joining FC Cincinnati he has been named to the league’s Team of the Matchday/Week.
Nwobodo’s naming to the Team of the Matchday bench is his third recognition among the league’s weekly best. The midfielder registered his fifth-career MLS goal contribution with his assist of Brandon Vazquez’s goal against Montréal.
Nwobodo won a game-high 11 possessions on the night.
The naming of Acosta and Nwobodo to the MLS Team of the Matchday are the 15th and 16th 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)
- Brandon Vazquez (5-Bench)
- Yerson Mosquera (6, 10)
- Álvaro Barreal (6-Bench, 9, 11-Bench)
- Sergio Santos (9-Bench)
- Luciano Acosta (11-Bench, 13)
The full team for Matchday 13 is listed below.
2023 MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (Matchday 13)
F: Ethan Finlay (ATX), Jesús Ferreira (DAL), Luiz Araújo (ATL)
M: Brandon Cambridge (CLT), Keaton Parks (NYC), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (MIN)
D: Malte Amundsen (CLB), Lukas MacNaughton (NSH), Brooks Lennon (ATL)
GK: Pedro Gallese (ORL)
Coach: Josh Wolff (ATX)
Bench: Andre Blake (PHI), Jan Sobociński (CLT), Richie Laryea (TOR), John Tolkin (RBNY), Obinna Nwobodo (CIN), Thiago Almada (ATL), Kwadwo Opoku (LAFC), Johnny Russell (SKC), Giorgos Giakoumakis (ATL)
