D.C. United Midfielder Luciano Acosta Voted Alcatel MLS Player of the Week
NEW YORK
(Tuesday, August 14, 2018)
– D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 24
th
week of the 2018 MLS season.
D.C. United defeated Orlando City SC 3-2 in dramatic fashion at Audi Field on Sunday, using Acosta’s first ever MLS hat trick to extend its three-game unbeaten streak. Acosta has four goals and nine assists in 18 games started this season. D.C. has 21 points in 2018 (5-9-6 overall record) but has compiled a 4-2-2 mark in matches where Acosta has recorded a goal or assist this season.
Acosta put D.C. on the board in first-half stoppage time, linking with Wayne Rooney on a beautiful give-and-go play in the box and dribbling past numerous defenders for a near-post finish that gave the club a 1-0 advantage (
Watch Goal
). Following an Orlando equalizer, Acosta once again put D.C. ahead when he finished a Yamil Asad pass over the top of the defense with a right-footed touch in front of goal for a 2-1 lead in the 64
th
minute (
Watch Goal
).
The 24-year-old Argentine capped his career day with a dramatic goal at the death to give D.C. a 3-2 victory and send the Audi Field crowd into a frenzy. Rooney made a terrific defensive stop near midfield and launched a long aerial pass into the box, with the 5’3” Acosta elevating to win the header over the Orlando defense and send the ball into the right side of goal to cap a tremendous performance (
Watch Goal
). Acosta’s game-winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time was the latest goal scored in stoppage time to complete a hat trick in MLS history.
D.C. United returns to action on Wednesday to host the Portland Timbers at Audi Field (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+) before another home match on Sunday against the New England Revolution (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Sports Go / FOX Deportes).
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the NASR and apply to join at
https://www.facebook.com/soccerreporters/
.
