Luciano Acosta, Brenner 'create magic' to bring FC Cincinnati a record success at TQL

After a three-week international break and getting locked up with health and safety protocol, midfielder Luciano Acosta has not been on the pitch with his team in quite some time.

Friday night, however, it seemed as if the opposite was true. When the MVP candidate hustled out onto the pitch in the second half, substituting for defender John Nelson, his efforts were marked as phenomenal by both head coach Pat Noonan and his teammates from the get-go.

"He was (upset) he wasn't on the field to start that game, I'll say that," Noonan said postgame. "And he was working hard from the time missed to be on the field. That was my decision, and even though he wanted to be out there from the opening whistle, I was very pleased with his mentality and how he came in and helped us win. He's passionate, he wants to be out there competing and helping his team win a game. So, despite getting frustrated at my decision he came out and performed and helped us get a goal."

"I'm very happy because I'm back," Acosta said postgame. "I feel good, I feel healthy, and ... I try to do my best (for them)."

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Acosta took five shots in the 35 minutes he was clocked, three of those on goal, for a 76% passing rate. While he might not have connected with the back of the net himself, he was grateful his teammates know him so well and were able to fill in the gaps.

Specifically, attacker Brenner Souza da Silva, who sealed the game when Acosta's shot went wild and snuck past the Orlando City SC goalkeeper giving Brenner the chance for the goal. This was Brenner's first goal of 2022, a special one as it resulted in a record-setting victory for the club, which had never reached seven wins at home since joining the MLS in 2019.

"He doesn't remember really well (how it played out). He just remembers seeing Lucho take the shot and he followed through with the ball -- he saw it was ready for him and he just needed to put it in the goal," FCC Player Welfare Coordinator Rodrigo Frank interpreted for Brenner postgame.

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"He's feeling physically and mentally on his best (right now). Unfortunately, at the beginning, he had a couple injuries so he could not start or score, but now that he's ... better, he's top level, he wants to keep it going," Rodrigo continued for Brenner.

"Brenner is amazing," Acosta said. "We understand (each other) and the relationship is amazing. When we play together we (create) magic."