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Pat Noonan, Luciano Acosta named to MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 13

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FC Cincinnati Head Coach Pat Noonan and midfielder Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta have been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 13, the league announced Monday.

Monday’s recognition marks the seventh time this season Lucho Acosta has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday, the 29th time in his career with FC Cincinnati. He is tied with countryman Lionel Messi for the most appearances on the weekly best from Major League Soccer this season.

In Saturday night’s 2-1 win in the Hell is Real derby at Columbus Crew, the first win in club history in the Ohio state capital, Acosta extended his goal contribution streak to six-straight games with at least one goal or one assist. Breaking a scoreless deadlock, Acosta assisted Kevin Kelsy’s goal in the 74th minute to send Cincinnati ahead. Two minutes later, Acosta scored a goal of his own to double FCC’s lead.

Acosta extended his club record in total games with multiple goal contributions (two-plus goals or assists) to 25 across all competitions, 22 in regular season play.

Noonan earned his 50th win at the helm of the Orange and Blue in Cincinnati’s rivalry win on Saturday night. He owns a 50-21-30 record with FC Cincinnati, and his 142 regular season points as manager are the most of any coach since the start of the 2022 MLS Regular Season.

Noonan, the 2023 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year, was named the MLS Coach of the Matchday for the fifth time in his career.

Acosta and Noonan’s recognitions were the 12th and 13th 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, 6-Bench, 10, 11, 12-Bench, 13)
- Miles Robinson (3, 5-Bench)
- Matt Miazga (6)
- DeAndre Yedlin (7-Bench)
- Corey Baird (11-Bench)

2024 FC Cincinnati MLS Team of the Matchday Player Recognitions
- Pat Noonan (13)

The full team for Matchday 13 is listed below.

2024 MLS Team of the Matchday presented by Audi (Matchday 13)

F: João Klauss (STL), Christian Benteke (DC), Luis Muriel (ORL)
M: Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Matías Rojas (MIA), Cristian Olivera (LAFC)
D: Vitor Costa (SJ), Andrew Privett (CLT), Griffin Dorsey (HOU)
GK: Matt Freese (NYC)

Coach: Pat Noonan (CIN)

Bench: Pedro Gallese (ORL), Héctor Herrera (HOU), Cristian Roldan (SEA), Nicolás Lodeiro (ORL), Riqui Puig (LA), Lewis Morgan (RBNY), Cristian Espinoza (SJ), Petar Musa (DAL), Cristian Arango (RSL)

FC Cincinnati return home to TQL Stadium for two matches this week beginning on Wednesday, May 15 against Atlanta United at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK) and the match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and fans can also listen to the match on ESPN 1530.

The Orange and Blue will also host St. Louis CITY SC for Salute to Service on Saturday, May 18, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.