NEW YORK (Monday, October 9, 2023) – Minnesota United FC forward Teemu Pukki was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 37 of the 2023 MLS season.
Pukki became the first player in Minnesota United FC history to score four goals in match as part of the club’s 5-2 victory over the LA Galaxy on Saturday, October 7. The Finnish star also became just the second player in club history to record a hat trick, joining Darwin Quintero on July 4, 2018. He is the 17th player to score four or more goals in a regular-season game in MLS history and the second in 2023 (Jordan Morris on March 25). Despite only appearing in 13 games, Pukki’s 10 regular-season goals lead Minnesota in 2023. Additionally, his 0.95 goals per 90 minutes average (950 minutes) ranks as the best in MLS among all players with at least five goals.
With the game tied 1-1 in the 45th minute, Emanuel Reynoso found Pukki’s run through the middle with a lofted pass and the striker broke the deadlock through his right-footed finish that trickled past the Galaxy goalkeeper (Watch Here). Pukki made it 3-1 in the 60th minute as the ball fell to him at the top of the 18-yard-box, which he thrashed into the bottom corner of the net (Watch Here). Seven minutes later, he finished off his hat trick as Bongokuhle Hlongwane noticed him open at the back post and the Finnish international calmly slotted home his strike (Watch Here). Pukki scored his fourth goal of the match on a counterattack in the 76th minute where he found himself one-on-one with the Galaxy goalkeeper and curled his effort into the side netting (Watch Here).
Pukki is the seventh different Minnesota player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire and the second this season, joining Emanuel Reynoso on Matchday 29. This is the second different season that two Loons outfield players have been named Player of the Matchday (2020, Kevin Molino and Ike Opara).
Minnesota will look to clinch an Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs berth on Decision Day when they travel to face Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park after the FIFA International Window on Saturday, October 21 (9 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
The MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio, and online media.
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