Midfielder Luciano Acosta has been named to MLS' Team of the Week bench for Week 3 thanks to his standout performance in United's 2-2 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, March 17. In his first start of 2018, Acosta put in a Man of the Match performance, providing vital creative energy on the attack and scoring his first goal of the season in the 97th minute to equalize.
After coming off the bench in Atlanta for his first appearance of the season, Acosta started and played a full 90 minutes for the Black-and-Red on Saturday. As usual, the Argentine's footwork, pace, and innovation on the ball troubled the opposing side all afternoon, as he evaded defenders and leveraged his foot skills to win two fouls for United in promising spots.
Acosta then played hero for the Black-and-Red in the match's final moment. Seven minutes into stoppage time and down 2-1, United found one final chance in the box. Paul Arriola headed a loose ball toward the six-yard box, where Frédéric Brillant headed a second ball toward Acosta, who was waiting unmarked on the back post. The midfielder cooly volleyed a shot past Houston goalkeeper Chris Seitz to level the scoreline and complete United's scrappy second-half comeback.
This is Acosta's first Team of the Week honor of the season.
See MLS' full Week 3 Team of the Week below.
F: Josef Martinez (ATL), Alberth Elis (HOU)
M: Ignacio Piatti (MTL), Roland Lamah (DAL), Mauro Diaz (DAL), Saphir Taider (MTL), Maxi Moralez (NYC)
D: Rod Fanni (MTL), Jack Elliott (PHI), Graham Zusi (SKC)
GK: Nick Rimando (RSL)
Bench: Bush (MTL), Beasley (HOU), Gutierrez (SKC), Gressel (ATL), Medina (NYC), Nicholson (MIN), Acosta (DCU)
Coach: Vieira (NYC)
