Kellyn Acosta

Kellyn Kai Perry-Acosta (born July 24, 1995) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids and the United States national team.

Kellyn Acosta
Personal information
Full name Kellyn Kai Perry-Acosta[1]
Date of birth (1995-07-24) July 24, 1995
Place of birth Plano, Texas, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Colorado Rapids
Number 10
Youth career
2009–2013 FC Dallas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2018 FC Dallas 117 (9)
2018– Colorado Rapids 58 (6)
National team‡
2010–2011 United States U17 18 (0)
2012 United States U18 4 (0)
2013–2015 United States U20 15 (0)
2016 United States U23 2 (0)
2016– United States 25 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 8, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of January 31, 2021

Club career

FC Dallas

Acosta played for the FC Dallas Development Academy prior to becoming a homegrown signing in July 2012 (although he was not eligible for selection until the 2013 season).[2] He did make three MLS Reserve League appearances. He was named U.S. Soccer Development Academy Central Conference Player of the Year in 2011–12.[3]

Acosta made his first-team debut in a 3–0 loss at Seattle in August 2013.[4] He made nine consecutive starts from August to October of that season. His 2014 season was interrupted by a knee injury. He initially played fullback for the club, but eventually transitioned to a starting role as a defensive midfielder in 2015.

Colorado Rapids

On July 23, 2018, Acosta was traded to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for Dominique Badji[5]. Acosta started all 12 league matches after joining Colorado, scoring two goals and adding three assists in Burgundy. On Feb. 20, 2019, Acosta signed a three-year contract extension keeping him in Colorado through 2021, with club options for 2022 and 2023[6].

Acosta enjoyed similar success in 2019, making 30 MLS starts and playing 2,619 minutes, both career highs, while adding two goals and two assists.

In a pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Acosta scored two goals and added one assist as he made 14 starts among 15 league appearances[7]. Acosta scored Colorado's playoff-clinching goal in a 1-0 win at Portland Timbers on Nov. 4[8]. Acosta started and played 81 minutes in Colorado's MLS Cup Playoff first-round loss to Minnesota United FC[9].

International career

Acosta was born in the United States to a Japanese father, and was eligible for Japan or the United States.[10] After having played in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Acosta became the youngest member of the U.S. squad at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[11] He was also part of the squad two years later at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[12]

Acosta made his senior international debut for the United States in a friendly versus Iceland on January 31, 2016.[13] Acosta scored his first senior international goal in a 2-1 friendly win over Ghana on July 1, 2017, curling a direct free kick into the bottom corner for the eventual game-winner[14]. He was selected to the U.S. squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup,[15] which the U.S. would go on to win. Acosta appeared in five of six games, including all three knock-out matches. Acosta made six appearances in international friendlies in 2018, scoring against Colombia on Oct. 12[16] and assisting Josh Sargent's goal against Peru on Oct. 16[17].

Following an almost 24 month absence from national team duty, Acosta was selected for a December 2020 camp on Nov. 30, 2020 alongside fellow Rapids teammates Cole Bassett and Sam Vines.[18] Acosta replaced Sebastian Lletget in the 68th minute of a 6-0 friendly win over El Salvador on Dec. 9 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla[19]. Acosta was called up again in January 2021 alongside Rapids teammates Vines and Jonathan Lewis[20], playing 90 minutes and assisting on Lewis' second goal in a 7-0 friendly win over Trinidad & Tobago at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 31[21].

Career statistics

Club
As of November 8, 2020[22][23]
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Dallas 2013 MLS 13000––130
2014 15000–1[lower-alpha 2]0160
2015 21321–3[lower-alpha 2]0264
2016 322503[lower-alpha 3]02[lower-alpha 2]0422
2017 233004[lower-alpha 3]3–276
2018 131200000151
Total 117991736013913
Colorado Rapids 2018 MLS 1220000–122
2019 31210–00322
2020 15200–1[lower-alpha 2]0162
Total 586100010606
Career total 17515101737019919
  1. All appearances in the U.S. Open Cup
  2. Appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. Appearances in the CONCACAF Champions League

International
As of December 9, 2020[24]
United States
YearAppsGoals
201640
2017131
201861
202010
2021 1 0
Total252
International goals
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 July 1, 2017 Rentschler Field, East Hartford, United States  Ghana
2–0
2–1
 Friendly
2 October 11, 2018 Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, United States  Colombia
1–1
2–4

Honors

Club

FC Dallas

International

United States

References
  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. May 30, 2015. p. 23. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  2. "Google". google.com.
  3. Drew Epperley. "Kellyn Acosta Named U.S. Soccer Development Academy Central Conference Player of the Year". Big D Soccer.
  4. "Acosta pleased with first MLS appearance in Seattle". FC Dallas.
  5. "FC Dallas' Kellyn Acosta traded to Colorado for package including Dom Badji". MLSSoccer.
  6. "Acosta, Rosenberry and Rubio pen long-term deals with the Colorado Rapids".
  7. "Kellyn Acosta".
  8. "MLS Match Center".
  9. "MLS Match Center".
  10. "10 Things: FC Dallas' versatile Kellyn Acosta on playing for his childhood MLS idol". February 22, 2016.
  11. "Kellyn Acosta named to US U-20 World Cup roster". Soccer Blog. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015.
  12. "U-20 2015 World Cup Roster".
  13. "U.S. MNT vs. Iceland".
  14. "USA 2, Ghana 1 | International Friendly Match Recap".
  15. "Bruce Arena Names 23-Player U.S. MNT Roster for 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  16. "MNT Falls to Colombia 4-2 in Spirited Kickoff Series Friendly in Tampa".
  17. "https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2018/10/16/17987060/usa-vs-peru-recap-americans-concede-late-equalizer-us-soccer-usmnt". External link in |title= (help)
  18. https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/11/berhalter-calls-22-players-ahead-of-usa-el-salvador-on-dec-9-in-ft-lauderdale
  19. "Youthful USMNT Erupts for 6-0 Win Versus El Salvador to Close Out 2020".
  20. "USMNT Preparation Camp to Begin Jan. 9 in Bradenton, Fla".
  21. "Three Players Score Twice as U.S. Men's National Team Opens 2021 With Dominant 7-0 Victory Against Trinidad and Tobago".
  22. Kellyn Acosta at Major League Soccer
  23. Kellyn Acosta at Soccerway. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  24. "Kellyn Acosta". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
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