NEW YORK – Atlanta United forward Giorgos Giakoumakis was voted the Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 27 of the 2023 MLS season.
Giakoumakis scored both of Atlanta’s goals in the club’s 2-0 victory on the road against Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on August 20. With his brace, the 28-year-old Greek striker is now tied for second in the race for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi with 12 goals this season. His 12 goals are the second-most by an Atlanta United player through his first 18 career games, trailing only club legend Josef MartĂnez, who had 18 goals in his first 18 MLS games. The club’s win was their first ever regular-season victory in Seattle, after previously going 0-1-2 in the three prior meetings. Giakoumakis (36 shots) and St. Louis CITY SC’s Nicholas Gioacchini (36 shots) are the only players in MLS this season to score at least 10 goals on fewer than 40 shots.
Giakoumakis opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he leapt and thunderously headed home Brooks Lennon’s corner kick from near the penalty spot. The Greek international doubled the lead and wrapped up all three points in the 65th minute with another headed finish. Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Thiago Almada picked out Giakoumakis’s run at the far post and the forward did the rest, heading the ball into the corner of the net from close range.
Giakoumakis becomes the third different Atlanta player to be named MLS Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire this season, joining Thiago Almada (Matchdays 1 and 4) and Caleb Wiley (Matchday 3). The Five Stripes join the Philadelphia Union as the only clubs to earn the MLS Player of the Matchday honor four different times in 2023. This is the first time in club history that three different players have won the award in the same season.
Atlanta will look to win consecutive matches when they host Nashville SC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Matchday 28 this Saturday, August 26 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
