SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC midfielder Léo Chú has been voted Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday presented by Continental Tire for Matchday 24 of the 2023 MLS season. Chú recorded his first brace on Saturday at Vancouver, as the Rave Green earned all three road points with a 3-2 comeback result at BC Place.
After Vancouver took the lead in the 24th minute, Chú equalized in the 60th minute when he tapped home Jackson Ragen’s header from a Nico Lodeiro corner kick to tie the game at 1-1. After Whitecaps FC regained its advantage in the 72nd minute, Chú tied the match just four minutes later. Lodeiro’s set piece was again headed on by Ragen into the middle of the six-yard-box, where Chú lunged to redirect the ball into the net. Although Chú was not credited with a goal or assist on the game-winning score, his well-struck effort in second-half stoppage time was saved by the Whitecaps goalkeeper, but fell to Seattle’s Yeimar, who slotted it home to give the Sounders all three points.
Chú is the second Seattle player to win MLS Player of the Matchday this season, following Jordan Morris’ four-goal performance against Sporting Kansas City on Matchday 5, a game in which Chú also recorded four assists. The Brazilian has already set a career-high with 16 starts in 21 appearances this season for Seattle, scoring three goals and eight assists, tied for first on the team and sixth in MLS.
The MLS Player of the Matchday is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while a Twitter fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.
Sounders FC now faces a two-match week, beginning on the road Wednesday, July 12 against the San Jose Earthquakes (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Seattle returns home to host FC Dallas on Saturday, July 15 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV – Watch Free, 93.3 KJR FM, Sirius XM FC, El Rey 1360 AM).
