D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta was voted the MLS Player of the Month presented by EA SPORTS™ by members of the media for the month of September of the 2018 MLS season.
During September, Acosta scored four goals and added six assists over five matches, while helping the Black-and-Red build an active five-game unbeaten streak. Acosta leads the league with 16 assists this season to go along with nine goals scored, both MLS career highs. United sit seventh in the Eastern Conference standings with 38 points (10-11-8 overall record), two points behind the Montreal Impact for the final playoff spot with two games in hand.
Acosta began the month with a brace in United’s 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Sept. 2 at Audi Field, scoring the first goal of the match in the face of two defenders (
Watch Goal
) before capping the day with another goal in transition (
Watch Goal
). A week later, the Black-and-Red finished with a 1-1 draw at New York City FC on Sept. 8.
The Argentine then helped United to a 2-1 victory when hosting Minnesota United on Sept. 12 with two assists, first on Ulises Segura’s equalizer (
Watch Assist
), followed by Darren Mattocks’ game-winner (
Watch Assist
). Acosta followed up with a one-goal, one-assist performance in United’s 3-3 home draw against the rival New York Red Bulls on Sept. 16, providing the helper with a deftly touched pass into the box on Paul Arriola’s match opening goal (
Watch Assist
). The Black-and-Red then took a 3-2 lead on Acosta’s chip on goalkeeper Luis Robles in the 87th minute (
Watch Goal
) before the Red Bulls equaled in the final minutes.
The 24-year-old midfielder capped the month with a goal and three assists in a 5-0 rout of the Montreal Impact on Sept. 29 at Audi Field. Acosta opened the match with his beautiful give-and-go goal in the 17th minute (
Watch Goal
) before providing his first assist of the night on Wayne Rooney’s 48th minute score (
Watch Assist
). United ran rampant as Acosta provided helpers on two Paul Arriola goals, setting the American up for an easy tap-in in the 61st minute (
Watch Assist
) and again for a chip over the keeper in the 78th minute (
Watch Assist
).
The Black-and-Red return to action on Sunday, October 7 when hosting the Chicago Fire at Audi Field (1 p.m. ET, ESPN / WatchESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN2).
MLS Player of the Month presented by EA SPORTS™ is voted upon by a panel of select national media members in a process conducted by MLS Communications.
