FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 24, the league announced Monday. Acosta’s goal and assist Saturday night led the Cincinnati comeback at Charlotte in the 2-2 draw at Bank of America Stadium.
Additionally, Álvaro Barreal was named to the Team of the Matchday bench.
Acosta has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for the seventh time this season, breaking his mark of six recognitions on the league’s weekly team last year, when the Argentine was eventually named to the end-of-season Best XI.
With the Orange and Blue down 2-0 at halftime, FC Cincinnati’s captain charged the club’s first comeback for a result when trailing by two-plus goals at the break. Acosta stepped up to the penalty spot to convert his fourth penalty kick goal of the year in the 52nd minute.
Then, in the 68th minute, Acosta provided a signature assist by playing a through ball to Álvaro Barreal running into the box, who buried the game’s decisive equalizer. Acosta’s goal and assist led to his team-high fifth game this season of multiple goal contributions.
Barreal’s naming to the Team of the Matchday bench is the All-Star’s fifth time among the league’s best this season. In addition to his equalizer, Barreal drew the penalty which allowed Acosta to score Cincinnati’s opening goal.
The naming of Acosta and Barreal to the MLS Team of the Matchday is the 26th and 27th 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, 24-Bench)
- Sergio Santos (9-Bench)
- Luciano Acosta (11-Bench, 13, 14, 16-Bench, 17-Bench, 20, 24)
- Roman Celentano (14-Bench, 20)
- Dominique Badji (22)
The full team for Matchday 24 is listed below.
2023 MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (Matchday 24)
F: Léo Chú (SEA), Alan Pulido (SKC), Karol Swiderski (CLT)
M: Riqui Puig (LA), Pablo Ruiz (RSL), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Sebastián Driussi (ATX)
D: Jackson Ragen (SEA), Andreas Maxsø (COL), Mauricio Pineda (CHI)
GK: Patrick Schulte (CLB)
Coach: Brian Schmetzer (SEA)
Bench: Drake Callender (MIA), Justen Glad (RSL), Álvaro Barreal (CIN), Santiago Sosa (ATL), Benjamin Cremaschi (MIA), Héctor Herrera (HOU), Frankie Amaya (RBNY), Fabian Herbers (CHI), Aziel Jackson (STL)
