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FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta is a star in the making

By Marcel Dumas

May 21, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta (23) celebrates at the final whistle during their 4-2 win over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta (23) celebrates at the final whistle during their 4-2 win over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Still six months shy of his 22nd birthday, Acosta is still a couple years off from his prime. His development should continue towards his future MLS stardom.

While he does not get the coverage in MLS that a Sebastian Giovinco or David Villa gets, Acosta is a legitimate star in the making. His contributions go unseen on the stat sheet, but knowledgeable fans who watch him play understand what he brings to FCD.

One of the major benefits of Major League Soccer when it was formed was the development of young American players. FC Dallas has been at the forefront of that development in recent years, and Kellyn Acosta has become the standard bearer of those efforts.

Acosta has been a regular in the FCD lineup since the 2013 season. He was brought along as a fullback before being moved to his current defensive midfield position. FC Dallas manager Oscar Pareja has shown a great deal of confidence in Acosta. He has allowed the 21 year old to learn on the job over the past three seasons. That faith has been rewarded as Acosta has continued to grow his game.

Assessment

He is not the “destroyer” type people think of for defensive mids. While he continues to improve in the tackle, Acosta reads the game well. This combined with his speed has allowed him to be effective in breaking up opposing attacks. His time as a fullback has educated him on the nuances of defensive positioning. This has also served him well with tracking runs and facing up attackers.

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Beyond his defensive acumen, Kellyn brings excellent technical ability to the pitch. He is effective in transitioning the ball quickly from defense to the attack. He is not a stat stuffer on the offensive end, but his abilities make him a true box-to-box midfielder.

Comparison

Acosta’s game is similar to PSG’s Blaise Matuidi. Built very similar, both use their quickness and game intelligence to break up play. Both are also gifted on the ball and can create chances going forward. They both chip in the occasional goal, but are most noticeable in winning the ball and being a key component to the build up.

Compared to Matuidi’s play with Saint-Etienne in his early twenties, Kellyn is following a similar development path. Still six months shy of his 22nd birthday, Acosta is still a couple years off from his prime. With more club and international experience to come, his development should continue towards him being a star.

Next: FC Dallas building a long term contender

Acosta has the talent and natural ability to become a mainstay in the US National team. His growth and skill will eventually take him to Europe. There he will be able test himself against the best in the world. FC Dallas fans know when that time does come he will rise and meet the challenge head on. It is what stars like Acosta do.

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