Luciano Acosta makes MLS history in FC Cincinnati win over NYCFC | Replay

The goal was trademark Luciano Acosta.

In the 57th minute of FC Cincinnati’s home match against New York City FC, Luciano Acosta juked and weaved and slalomed toward what started to look like an inevitable goal. That’s exactly what it was, and the score was Acosta’s third in as many games across all competitions.

It also marked a historic moment in Acosta’s increasingly-historic career.

With the tally, Acosta, Major League Soccer’s reigning most valuable player, became the seventh player to join an elite list of MLS players to score at least 60 goals and notch 80 assists – a “60-80 club,” so to speak.

Acosta joined the likes of MLS legends and hall of fame-caliber star, including Landon Donovan (145 goals/136 assists), Jaime Moreno (133/102), Diego Valeri (86/91), Preki (79/112), Steve Ralston (76/135) and Cobi Jones (70/90).

"For our particular group, when we need (Acosta) to step up like tonight, he just finds a way to impact the game, whether its with a goal or an assist, to lead us to a victory," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. "That just speaks to the consistency he's had to reach those numbers and the guys on that list are some of the best this league's ever seen and I think Lucho, you know, rightfully in that group of the best that have ever played in our league."

Acosta said he was made aware of his impending accomplishment leading up to the match.

"I'm very happy to be on this list," Acosta said afterward, partially through a team interpreter. "I'm very happy to be there. It's an honor for me...

The goal also delivered FC Cincinnati a long-awaited home win, its first of 2024. Acosta said he was happy to give that gift to FCC's home supporters.

FC Cincinnati used Acosta’s goal to defeat NYCFC, 1-0, Saturday at TQL Stadium before a crowd of 24,282.

The win saw FC Cincinnati end the night on an undefeated, 3-0-2 record. After a pair of goalless draws at home to start league play and some resulting consternation in corners of the fan base, FCC was alone atop the race for the Supporters’ Shield when the final whistle sounded on Saturday.

"In some ways, it didn't matter how. It was just important for us to win at home," Noonan said afterward. "Pleased that the guys were able to do that. It wasn't the prettiest game or performance but I thought we defended well. Had some clear looks we can do better with to score a few more goals. While we weren't able to convert them, I still think the guys did a good job."

FC Cincinnati’s defense shone once again on the night. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano was called into action for three saves, including a diving stop early in the second half. Celentano and his back line earned their third league shutout of 2024 and have allowed just two goals in MLS play.

Including FCC’s now-concluded CONCACAF Champions Cup run, the club has four shutouts over nine matches and six goals allowed.

"Our defending's carrying the group right now," Noonan said. "Three clean sheets at home, so that's obviously important and do I think we're further along? Yes and no. I think teams this early in the season sometimes are looking to find their rhythm and just like us, ways to create and score goals. When that's not there, what does it look like on the other side of the ball. I do think our group being able to consistently get pressure to the ball and make it difficult on teams has been pretty good. We just have to find ways to finish off chances so it doesn't have to feel the way it does in a one-goal game."

Refereeing decisions factored heavily in the game, which is something few would have argued about the first four MLS matches of the year for Cincinnati.

In the 15th minute, FC Cincinnati appeared to take a 1-0 lead through Kipp Keller's header off an Acosta feed, but center referee Rafael Bonilla quickly found himself undertaking a field-side monitor video-assistant referee (VAR) review. Offside, on either Acosta or Keller, resulted in the goal being called off. It wasn't immediately clear which player was in an offside position.

Later, in the ninth minute of what ended up being 14 minutes of added time in the second half, FC Cincinnati was awarded a penalty kick. Acosta was lining the ball up for career goal No. 61 when Bonilla found himself back at the monitor, and Cincinnati was denied the spot-kick.

The FC Cincinnati bench was issued its first yellow card of the year as the coaching staff's protestations during the game seemed to be more prominent than in past matches.

Noonan had consistently avoided piling on the replacement-referee controversy as the league's usual officials are locked out due to a labor dispute. But on Saturday, he conceded the refereeing was probably the most difficult for his team to manage in 2024.

"Yeah, I would say tonight was probably the toughest - on both sides," Noonan said. "This wasn't a one-sided affair in terms of who got calls and who didn't. You had to go to VAR too often because of those moments... just the recognition of fouls and situations. It was a long night but I thought both teams kind of handled as well as they could without it escalating into more yellows and more mass-confrontation moments, so credit to the players out there for managing those moments."

One of the more uplifting features of the night was the return of Nick Hagglund, who last appeared during the club's 2023 postseason run due to a torn hamstring and resulting surgery.

Hagglund received a loud ovation when he checked into the match midway through the second half. His usual gritty defending helped FCC close out the first home win in MLS play of 2024.

"I was buzzing for him. I normally don't play too emotional but I remember there was a ball played through and he had a sliding challenge that stopped a breakaway," Celentano said of Hagglund. "That was probably the best moment of the match for me because it's like validation for him, kind of being like 'alright, I'm finally back here, I know I can do it.' I was really happy for him to be back on the field and make a few big plays to help us see out the game."

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At last, a win at TQL Stadium

FC Cincinnati won its first league match of 2024 at TQL Stadium. For everything that's been nitpicked about FC Cincinnati over the first month-plus of the season, FCC is going to end the night tied for the lead in the Supporters' Shield race. It's early to be concerned with standings and the Shield race but if nothing else, these results are buying the club time until it can start scoring in bunches.

VAR prevents another possible FCC goal (99')

FC Cincinnati was awarded a penalty kick that would have presented Luciano Acosta with a chance for career MLS goal No. 61 but VAR intervened to overturn a big play for the second time.

Luciano Acosta makes MLS history (57')

Luciano Acosta juked and cut and slalomed his way to a goal for 1-0. It was trademark, classic "Lucho." But this goal carried with it some history as Acosta joined the "60-80" club, becoming the seventh player in MLS history to score 60 goals and notch 80 assists.

Acosta joins a club of players to achieve the accomplishment that includes (Landon Donovan (145 goals/136 assists), Jaime Moreno (133/102), Diego Valeri (86/91), Preki (79/112), Steve Ralston (76/135) and Cobi Jones (70/90). All those names were hall of fame-caliber players.

The goal was Acosta's third in all competitions this year, as well as his third in three games.

Scoreless again at TQL Stadium

Of the nine halves of soccer FC Cincinnati has so far played at TQL Stadium in 2024, the club's been unable to score during seven. That included tonight's first half. FCC is staring down the possibility of a fourth home shutout in five matches across all competitions to begin the season.

Kipp Keller goal ruled out for offside (15')

FC Cincinnati appeared to take a 1-0 lead through Kipp Keller's header off a Luciano Acosta feed, but center referee Rafael Bonilla quickly found himself undertaking a field-side monitor video-assistant referee (VAR) review. Offside, on either Acosta or Keller, resulted in the goal being called off. It wasn't immediately clear which player was in an offside position.

Luca Orellano dominating early (14')

After dropping that dime to Boupendza, Orellano's been terrorizing NYCFC's right flank. His most recent action was a close-range

First chance to FCC (8')

Luca Orellano played Aaron Boupendza in with a beautiful, curling pass. Boupendza was in on goal alone but fired his shot straight into Matt Freese, the NYCFC goalkeeper.

Underway at TQL Stadium (1')

It's a beautiful night in Cincinnati, although it's a bit chilly. Generally, FC Cincinnati and its fans have had ideal weather conditions for home matches given the time of year.

FC Cincinnati, NYCFC starters

• FC Cincinnati starting lineup: Roman Celentano (GK), Kipp Keller, Matt Miazga, Luca Orellano, Ian Murphy, DeAndre Yedlin, Yuya Kubo, Luciano Acosta (captain), Pavel Bucha, Aaron Boupendza, Corey Baird.

• Cincinnati bench: Alvas Powell, Nick Hagglund, Bret Halsey, Sergio Santos, Gerardo Valenzuela, Malik Pinto, Quimi Ordonez, Evan Louro (GK), Stiven Jimenez.

• NYCFC starting XI: Matt Freese (GK), Brik Risa, Strahinja Tanasijevic, Thiago Martins (captain), Kevin O'Toole, James Sands, Andres Perea, Hannes Wolf, Santiago Rodriguez, Julian Fernandez, Andres Jasson.

• NYCFC bench: Luis Barraza, Rio Hope-Gund, Alonso Martinez, Agustin Ojeda, Maximo Carrizo, Drew Baiera, Justin Haak, Malachi Jones, Jacob Arroyave.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Luciano Acosta makes MLS history in FC Cincinnati win over NYCFC