Luciano Acosta Archives - Cincinnati Soccer Talk https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/tag/luciano-acosta/ Covering FC Cincinnati and soccer in the Queen City. Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:40:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 156148459 FC Cincinnati trades Lucho Acosta to FC Dallas https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/02/12/fc-cincinnati-trades-lucho-acosta-to-fc-dallas/ Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:37:13 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45034 FC Cincinnati has officially completed the sale of Luciano “Lucho” Acosta to FC Dallas for a fee of $5 million plus $1 million in add-ons. The details of his contract are unknown. “As Lucho departs, we want to express our gratitude,” said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager in a statement. “Lucho has been a […]

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FC Cincinnati has officially completed the sale of Luciano “Lucho” Acosta to FC Dallas for a fee of $5 million plus $1 million in add-ons. The details of his contract are unknown.

“As Lucho departs, we want to express our gratitude,” said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager in a statement. “Lucho has been a tremendous player for this club. From helping secure the first playoff appearance in team history, to an MVP season leading to the Supporters’ Shield, he has played a huge role in the story and success of FC Cincinnati. We wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.”

It was a saga that lasted the entire offseason. Boca Juniors, Corinthians, San Jose, and even Chicago were suitors; Estudiantes weren’t able to agree on personal terms. A deal would finally materialize with the Texan club, made possible by MLS’ new “cash for players” trade market, which allows a club to sign two in-league players per season for a flat fee.

Dallas are in the midst of a rebuild under Eric Quill, their newly-hired manager from New Mexico United. Most of their starters have been dealt. They traded for Lalas Abubakar, Anderson Julio, Shaq Moore, and Léo Chú. From abroad, they added Ramiro from Cruzeiro and Osaze Urhoghide from Amiens to significantly bolster their defense. Lucho is their biggest acquisition; he could form a partnership with club-record signing Petar Musa.

Lucho is the greatest player in the history of FC Cincinnati. He spent four seasons here—all as the captain—accumulating 54 goals and 53 assists in 151 appearances. He is the all-time leader in scoring and assisting in club history. He won the 2023 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, leading the club to the Supporters’ Shield; that season, he’d score 21 goals and 14 assists in 44 matches.

His first season was in 2021, during the Nijkamp era with Jaap Stam was his head coach.  Some of his teammates included Geoff Cameron, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Haris Medunjanin, and Brenner.  He ended that season with 7 goals and 8 assists in 31 appearances.

He was the star in the club’s quick turnaround under the leadership of Albright and Noonan. In the 2022 season, he had 11 goals and 13 assists in 34 matches. He would lead the club to its first MLS playoff berth.

In 2023, he led FC Cincinnati to its best-ever season. They would win their first Supporters’ Shield, a trophy awarded to the club that finishes in first place during the regular season. He would also lead them to the Eastern Conference Final. He finished that season with 35 G/A in 44 matches and the Landon Donovan MVP award.

In 2024, he maintained this form with 34 G/A in 41 matches. He would lead FC Cincinnati to a third place finish in the Eastern Conference despite being hampered by injuries in the backline. But it would end up being a disappointing season.

After the Round One Best-of-Three loss to NYCFC that ended FCC’s 2024 season, he had this to say immediately after the match: “We played a game today that I may remember as my last at the club. I played with my absolute 100% and more. I hope that’s how I’m remembered. This is a club I gave my life for, I gave everything for.”

Lucho revealing that it was his last year in Orange and Blue had fans completely shocked. His statements came just months removed from pledging his loyalty to the city in his MVP speech, the front page ad he took out in the Enquirer, and his celebration after the game-winner in the 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Union.

He expressed frustration with the front office’s inability to retain Álvaro Barreal, Junior Moreno, and Santi Arias—all among his closest teammates. This was repeated in a statement sent to Laurel Pfahler that publicly exposed a rift with GM Chris Albright. But it would’ve been difficult for those players to all be maintained.

That is not to mention on-field hindrances. He battled an ankle injury over the course of the season that sidelined him in the summer; the extent of this injury isn’t known. He dealt with a revolving door of strikers and wasn’t really able to play with a DP in that position.

All of that combined with rumored personal issues that would’ve made a return to Argentina necessary. These issues have not been confirmed, but they could add context to why he departed so suddenly—and why he would blame Albright for issues that couldn’t have been entirely his fault.

Lucho’s departure allows a new era to begin for FC Cincinnati; they reach roster compliance and are set to sign Evander as his replacement. Despite obvious feelings of betrayal from the fanbase, his time at the club will be remembered fondly.

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What I Think We Can Learn from a Preseason Match…Maybe https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2025/02/10/what-i-think-we-can-learn-from-a-preseason-match-maybe/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:23:50 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=45153 Like many of you, I tuned into FC Cincinnati’s preseason match against the Philadelphia Union on Friday with great anticipation. Though I knew we’d encounter poor camera angles, bad production value, and wonky lineups (and we did!), I couldn’t pass up my first chance to see the 2025 version of the team we all love. […]

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Like many of you, I tuned into FC Cincinnati’s preseason match against the Philadelphia Union on Friday with great anticipation. Though I knew we’d encounter poor camera angles, bad production value, and wonky lineups (and we did!), I couldn’t pass up my first chance to see the 2025 version of the team we all love.

Preseason in every sport is notorious for sending fans into over-reaction mode. Whether our teams are winning or losing, we want real data from preseason performances that just doesn’t exist. FC Cincinnati handled the Union pretty easily in the end, winning  4-1 after 120 minutes of play. However, I would preach caution when reading anything into the results of the match. Instead, here are some tactical observations  that just might turn out to be true as we head into the season…maybe.

*Note: I’m writing this assuming that Lucho Acosta will not be on the roster for the 2025 season.

Kévin Denkey will get off to a slow start in 2025.

There is a truckload of caveats that needs to be dumped all over this take:

  • Denkey hasn’t had much of a chance to play with important players like Yuya Kubo or Luca Orellano  due to their late arrival to camp.
  • Denkey is a super-star designated player, and it wouldn’t be odd if he was just trying to get his fitness up while not getting hurt during the preseason.

Denkey’s strength and tenacity will probably allow him to get better as games progress and defenses wear down, yet we only saw him for around 30 minutes on Friday.

All of that said, I fully expect  Kévin Denkey to get off to a slow start this season, and not just because he is a young guy trying to get settled on a new team in a new country. FC Cincinnati seemed to have a very difficult time progressing the ball through the center of the pitch in this preseason match, and I think that will continue as the team tries to figure out life post-Lucho Acosta.

Acosta led the team in both progressive pass receptions (237) and progressive passes (250). That means if he wasn’t the one passing the ball forward and starting the attack, he was typically the one receiving the pass. On Friday, that presence was sorely missed. The team relied heavily on playing short passes to the wing backs and asking them to find an entry pass into the midfield or the forward line. When that wasn’t available, the team seemed to dump a ball in Kévin Denkey’s direction and ask him to battle a center back to hold the ball up while the team transitioned forward. All of this meant that Denkey spent a lot of time checking back into midfield to get onto 50/50 balls or to be an option for an under-pressure wingback. It is going to be tough for him to take on that much of the ball progression load and still find opportunities to put the ball into the back of the net.

Even if Evander or another Acosta replacement comes in soon, it will take some time for FC Cincinnati to sort out how they are going to get the ball to Kévin Denkey in dangerous forward positions. I expect him to start slow but build into the season as they do just that.

FC Cincinnati’s press will look the same, but be better, in 2025

I was really interested to see how FC Cincinnati would set up to press the opposition without Lucho Acosta on the pitch this season. Under Pat Noonan, the Orange and Blue has mostly pressed out of a 3-4-2-1 formation with Acosta both triggering and leading the press. That means that he was both indicating when the team should press and when it should drop off, often the furthest player forward when the opposition’s back line had the ball. Consequently, whoever was playing center forward spent a lot of time dropping in as an attacking midfielder in defense.

Without Lucho Acosta on the pitch on Friday, FCC still pressed out of the 3-4-2-1 formation. However, with the starters on the pitch, Kévin Denkey led the press with Luca Orellano and Pavel Bucha dropping in as midfielders. Denkey is not only much more energetic as the spearhead of the press than Acosta, but he will also be more adept at pulling defenders out of position or creating space in the box in transition when the press wins the ball back. Furthermore, new left wingback Lukas Engel is going to be far better defensively than Yamil Asad, Orellano, or any of the cast of characters that filled in at that spot last season.

FC Cincinnati’s first goal came directly off the press, and I expect that to be a feature for the team in 2025.

FC Cincinnati will defend more and look to score in transition in 2025

Last season we would often see FC Cincinnati build patiently from back to front before looking to get Lucho Acosta on the ball in the final third of the field. The team relied on set possession and pinning teams back to generate chances. On Friday, FCC certainly possessed the ball at times,but mostly with their defenders. Once the team made the decision to go forward, they looked to get there quickly.

I don’t think that FCC is going  to dump and chase or turn into the kind of direct team that we’ve seen out of the Red Bulls, St. Louis, or even the Philadelphia Union. However, it sure looked to me like the tactical emphasis in possession during this preseason match was to pass the ball side to side in the back and midfield only as a means to move the ball forward as quickly as possible. Often, the team would lose the ball or find a shot prior to both wingbacks even being able to join the attack.

That sort of frenetic pace will mean the team might spend more time defending, but when they win the ball, they will be more decisive in turning defense into attack.

So, that’s what I saw on Friday. I think these tactics just might give us a glimpse at how FCC will play throughout the coming season…maybe.

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FC Cincinnati Strike Out in New York https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/11/07/fc-cincinnati-strike-out-in-new-york/ Thu, 07 Nov 2024 12:13:26 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44754 Highlights from this week’s show. Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 3-1 loss to New York City Football Club in the 2nd game of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. What changed between games 1 and 2 to make the match seem so much more depressing? How much did playing on a baseball […]

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Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 3-1 loss to New York City Football Club in the 2nd game of the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. What changed between games 1 and 2 to make the match seem so much more depressing? How much did playing on a baseball field affect the team?

The guys also talk about veteran leadership, how this team should go into the final game of the series, and much more!

Follow Coach

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Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

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FC Cincinnati Unleash 22 Shots in Win Over NYCFC https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/11/01/fc-cincinnati-unleash-22-shots-in-win-over-nycfc/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 22:10:27 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44741 Highlights from this week’s show. Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 1-0 win over New York City Football Club. Was it a good thing that FCC generated 22 shots? Or a bad thing that so many of them were not on target? Was their defense stellar on the night or was NYC […]

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Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 1-0 win over New York City Football Club. Was it a good thing that FCC generated 22 shots? Or a bad thing that so many of them were not on target? Was their defense stellar on the night or was NYC just impotent?

The guys also talk about Teenage Hadebe’s performance, whether Obinna Nwobodo has found his 2023 form, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

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Own Goal Scores Game-Winner for FC Cincinnati https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/10/24/own-goal-scores-game-winner-for-fc-cincinnati/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 22:30:51 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44712 Highlights from this week’s show. Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. Did they dominate the match, or were they lucky to get the win through an own goal? The guys also talk about Teenage Hadebe’s performance, ask whether this offensive lineup is the way to go […]

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Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. Did they dominate the match, or were they lucky to get the win through an own goal?

The guys also talk about Teenage Hadebe’s performance, ask whether this offensive lineup is the way to go headed into the playoffs, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

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Fixing FC Cincinnati for the Playoffs https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/10/11/fixing-fc-cincinnati-for-the-playoffs/ Fri, 11 Oct 2024 15:33:52 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44684 Highlights from this week’s show. Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte spend a few minutes breaking down FC Cincinnati’s 3-1 loss to Orlando City before turning their sights to the playoffs. What are the biggest issues with this team, and are they fixable? Is there reason to hope for a deep playoff run? The guys also […]

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Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte spend a few minutes breaking down FC Cincinnati’s 3-1 loss to Orlando City before turning their sights to the playoffs. What are the biggest issues with this team, and are they fixable? Is there reason to hope for a deep playoff run?

The guys also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each FCC striker, give their opinions on who should start, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

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Poor Weather, Poor First Half, and Poor Fans Who had to Watch It https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/10/01/poor-weather-poor-first-half-and-poor-fans-who-had-to-watch-it/ Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:45:51 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44652 Highlights from this week’s show. Coach Gough goes solo to break down FC Cincinnati’s drab 2-1 loss at home to Los Angeles Football Club. Why was FCC so bad in the first half? Which players underperformed most? What changed in the second half to make the performance better? Coach also goes in depth about what […]

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Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough goes solo to break down FC Cincinnati’s drab 2-1 loss at home to Los Angeles Football Club. Why was FCC so bad in the first half? Which players underperformed most? What changed in the second half to make the performance better?

Coach also goes in depth about what he’s hoping to get out of the final three matches of the season and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

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Stale Offense Brings Stalemate in the Music City https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/09/24/stale-offense-brings-stalemate-in-the-music-city/ Tue, 24 Sep 2024 22:37:48 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44625 Highlights from this week’s show. Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 2-2 draw with Nashville SC. Why couldn’t FCC deal with Nashville’s long balls? Were they better in the 2nd half or did Nashville just slow down? The guys also ask what FC Cincinnati’s attack was supposed to look like, why they […]

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Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 2-2 draw with Nashville SC. Why couldn’t FCC deal with Nashville’s long balls? Were they better in the 2nd half or did Nashville just slow down?

The guys also ask what FC Cincinnati’s attack was supposed to look like, why they struggled to create chances, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

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Good or Lucky? FCC Hold Crew off With Makeshift Defense https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/09/17/good-or-lucky-fcc-hold-crew-off-with-makeshift-defense/ Tue, 17 Sep 2024 22:09:34 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44601 Highlights from this week’s show. Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 0-0 draw with Columbus Crew in the Hell is Real Derby. Was the makeshift defense good, or just lucky? Why couldn’t FCC get their offense going? The guys also talk Niko Gioacchini, how Crew deferred to FCC, and much more! Follow […]

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Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough and Justin Hoyte break down FC Cincinnati’s 0-0 draw with Columbus Crew in the Hell is Real Derby. Was the makeshift defense good, or just lucky? Why couldn’t FCC get their offense going?

The guys also talk Niko Gioacchini, how Crew deferred to FCC, and much more!

Follow Coach

On Twitter @FCCincyTacTalk

On Threads @FCCincyTacTalk

On Instagram @FCCincyTacTalk

Support Talking Tactics and CST!

Want to help the Talking Tactics Podcast grow? Leave a rating and a review! Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Become a supporter today!

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://fcctactalk.libsyn.com/rss

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Coors Light Chill Jersey and Leagues Cup preview with Luciano Acosta https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/2024/08/08/coors-light-chill-jersey-and-leagues-cup-preview-with-luciano-acosta/ Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:17:42 +0000 https://cincinnatisoccertalk.com/?p=44423 This summer alongside Leagues Cup, Coors Light has partnered with FC Cincinnati’s own Luciano Acosta to bring soccer fans across the country the “Refresh the Game” campaign and the Coors Light Chill Jersey. The jersey is the first-ever smart jersey that keeps fans cool when the game heats up. The jersey has built-in thermal sensors […]

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This summer alongside Leagues Cup, Coors Light has partnered with FC Cincinnati’s own Luciano Acosta to bring soccer fans across the country the “Refresh the Game” campaign and the Coors Light Chill Jersey. The jersey is the first-ever smart jersey that keeps fans cool when the game heats up. The jersey has built-in thermal sensors that detect when your body temperature rises and it activates a cooling system to keep you chill during any soccer match. In addition to the jersey, each jersey will have a Captain’s Beer Band to keep a crisp Coors Light within arm’s reach.

“I have a jersey at home! I wish I could hit the field with it but it certainly does keep you cool when things get heated,” Luciano Acosta said when asked about the new Coors Light Chill Jersey, “I hope I can play with a tech jersey like the Coors Light Chill Jersey on the field.”

Soccer continues to grow in popularity across the globe, especially with younger, diverse fans and drinkers. As a fan of the sport, Coors Light is proud to continue its partnership with Leagues Cup and cultivate moments of chill for the most passionate fans of the sport.

Leagues Cup 

The League Cup brings a new chapter of soccer in North America. Starting in 2023, Major League Soccer and Liga MX pause their respective regular seasons to bring a tournament between the 47 teams of the two leagues. 

Club America of Liga MX and Columbus Crew of MLS automatically get put into the knockout round for winning their respective league.

This year, FC Cincinnati also advanced to the knockout round winning East group 1 with New York City FC of MLS and Queretaro of Liga MX. FC Cincinnati faced off against Queretaro on Thursday, August 1 winning 1-0 and faced off against New York City FC on Monday, August 5 and won in a thrilling 4-2 victory that saw the Orange and Blue score four goals in 10 minutes.

When asked about the Leagues Cup Luciano Acosta said, “The fact of being able to have played in both leagues and knowing all the teams gives me a special emotion, since the soccer played in each league is totally different, which is an extra ingredient.”

Before his time with FC Cincinnati, Luciano Acosta spent his days with Atlas in Liga MX.

Acosta expanded on the Leagues Cup tournament saying, “My favorite aspect of this tournament is seeing fans who perhaps in Mexico supported a club and now that they live in the United States they surely now have a favorite club, that mix is so unique to this world.”

Last year, FCC advanced to the knockout stage but their Leagues Cup run was cut short when they suffered a first-round loss to Nashville SC.

FC Cincinnati will match up against Liga MXs Santos Laguna to kick off Round of 32 action at 7:30 PM on Friday, August 9 at TQL Stadium. Fans can watch on Apple TV.

Luciano Acosta

Luciano Acosta looks to build momentum on a stellar season he’s had thus far and bring a trophy home for FCC. Earlier this season, Acosta surpassed 150 goal contributions, a feat that has only been accomplished by 15 other players.

“It is definitely an honor to belong to an exclusive list of players that I saw play as a child, it is an achieved goal without a doubt. A personal satisfaction.” Acosta said when asked about the monumental achievement.

Along with that achievement, Acosta could add another one this season that no other player in the history of the league has accomplished. Acosta won the MLS MVP in 2023 and during his 2024 season,  has not missed a step. He already has more assists and almost more goal contributions than he did during his MVP campaign. With a couple of months to go, this certainly might make Acosta a favorite to be the first-ever back-to-back MVP winner in MLS history.

“The reality is that game by game I think MVP is a consequence of each week’s result,” said Acosta about the possibility of being the first ever back-to-back MVP, “I don’t go on the field thinking I can make history. My goal will always be to contribute to the team and for us to win, that is the most important thing right now.”

However, to make an impact that big on the field, Acosta finds himself playing nearly every minute of every game. Acosta averages 84.75 minutes per game which puts him near the top of the league of minutes.

When asked how he keeps his body in peak fitness while being able to recover properly between matches Acosta said, “The only way to be able to meet the demand of so many minutes is to be 100% professional in all aspects of my life, so I am very careful with breaks and my diet without a doubt.”

Luciano Acosta has provided many great memories for FCC fans over the years, such as leading the team to its first-ever home playoff game, leading FCC to a Supporters Shield or providing fans with the Goal of the Yea.

However, Acosta picked a different memory as his favorite in the Orange and Blue.

“My greatest memory with FC Cincinnati is when they named me MVP of the league last year, it was my way of reciprocating the club’s trust by bringing me back to MLS,” said Acosta, “For me, the most special thing this club has is its fans, if you realize, since they played in the USL they filled the stadium, the energy and commitment of their fans is not to easy to find in other MLS clubs. I hope to continue making memories alongside them with a refreshing Coors Light in hand.”

Catch Luciano Acosta and FC Cincinnati as they gear up for a Leagues Cup push and keep yourself cool and refreshed with a Coors Light or a Coors Light Chill Jersey!

This interview has been conducted with Lucho Acosta and through a Coors Light marketing team. 

The post Coors Light Chill Jersey and Leagues Cup preview with Luciano Acosta appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

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