D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta was named to the bench of MLS' Team of the Week for Week 23 after assisting on Yamil Asad's equalizer against the Montreal Impact on Aug. 4. The goal secured a crucial point on the road for United, who remain in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference, and was Acosta's team-leading ninth assist of the season.
Acosta was the creative fulcrum for United's attack all night in Montreal, as he has been for most of his tenure in D.C., and he continued to shine brightly with fellow Argentine Asad and United's captain Wayne Rooney. The trio combined for multiple dangerous chances while Acosta connected on 82.17% of his passes before ultimately setting up Asad's equalizer.
"I think we hit the post two or three times," Rooney said following the match. "The ‘keeper had a couple of good saves. Another day, [maybe] we win the game but it’s a point away from home. It’s always nice to get a point away, especially here. It’s a difficult place to go but the lads in the dressing room are disappointed because we felt the performance deserved a win."
The assist was Acosta's team-leading ninth of the season, one shy of doubling his total from 2017.
This is the second time this season Acosta has made the MLS Team of the Week after earning honors in Week 3 following his game-tying goal against the Houston Dynamo on March 17.
See the full MLS team of the Week below:
F: Vako (SJ), Martinez (ATL), Giovinco (TOR)
M: Plata (RSL), Kreilach (RSL), Alonso (SEA), Adams (RBNY)
D: Castillo (COL), Kashia (SJ), Opara (SKC)
GK: Bush (MTL)
Bench: Attinella (POR), Parker (RBNY), Larentowicz (ATL), Busio (SKC), Acosta (DC), Valeri (POR), Royer (RBNY)
Coach: Mikael Stahre (SJ)
