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Luciano Acosta named to MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 5

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FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 5, the league announced Monday. Additionally, Miles Robinson was named to the Team of the Matchday Bench.

Monday’s recognition marks the second time this season Acosta has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday, the 24th time in his FC Cincinnati career.

After starting in six of the opening seven matches of the 2024 season for FCC – including going the full 90 minutes in four-straight matches including Thursday’s match at CF Monterrey – Acosta began Sunday’s match at the New England Revolution on the bench. The captain entered the scoreless match to begin the second half and provided a jolt of energy for the Orange and Blue.

FC Cincinnati’s early half offensive barrage led by Acosta was rewarded with the game’s opening goal in the 52nd minute, with the Argentine recording his 80th career MLS assist on a corner kick which Yuya Kubo headed in.

Two minutes later, Acosta scored his first MLS goal of the campaign on a perfectly guided free kick under a jumping New England wall. The goal would prove to be the game winner, the fifth of Acosta’s career with FCC.

Acosta extended his club record in games with multiple goal contributions (2+ goals or assists) to 23 across all competitions, 20 in regular season play. He is now two goals shy of matching Brandon Vazquez’s club record of 43 goals across all competitions and has scored in each of his past three MLS matches for FC Cincinnati when coming off the bench as a substitute.

Additionally, Robinson was named to the Team of the Matchday Bench for his stalwart defending, particularly down the stretch Sunday to preserve FCC’s one-goal lead and see out a 2-1 win. Robinson earned his second Team of the Matchday recognition of the season (Matchday 3).

Last season, FC Cincinnati set a club-record with 40 players named to the MLS Team of the Matchday. Acosta and Robinson’s performances are the third and fourth recognitions of an FC Cincinnati player or coach on the weekly team this season. A full list of 2024 FC Cincinnati matchday honors: 
 
2024 FC Cincinnati MLS Team of the Matchday Player Recognitions 
- Luciano Acosta (3, 5)
- Miles Robinson (3, 5-Bench)
 
The full team for Matchday 5 is listed below.  
 
2024 MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (Matchday 5) 

F: Luis Suárez (MIA), Cucho Hernández (CLB), Giorgos Giakoumakis (ATL)
M: Kellyn Acosta (CHI), Aidan Morris (CLB), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Federico Redondo (MIA)
D: Kevin O’Toole (NYC), Dany Rosero (SKC), Jon Gallagher (ATX)
GK: Roman Bürki (STL)

Coach: Eric Ramsay (MIN)

Bench: Andrew Thomas (SEA), Miles Robinson (CIN), Hassani Dotson (MIN), Alex Muyl (NSH), Joseph Paintsil (LA), Matías Cóccaro (MTL), Ibrahim Aliyu (HOU), Leonardo Campana (MIA), Brian White (VAN)

The Orange and Blue return home to TQL Stadium Saturday, March 23 to take on New York City FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the match will stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Tickets are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK).