D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta was voted the Major League Soccer player of the week by the North American Soccer Reporters.

United defeated Orlando City SC, 3-2, in dramatic fashion at Audi Field Sunday, using Acosta’s first MLS hat-trick to extend its three-game unbeaten streak. Acosta has four goals and nine assists in 18 starts. D.C. has 21 points (5-9-6 record) but has compiled a 4-2-2 mark in matches where Acosta has recorded a goal.

Acosta put D.C. on the board in first-half stoppage time, linking with Wayne Rooney on a give-and-go play in the penalty area and dribbling past numerous defenders for a near-post finish that gave the club a 1-0 advantage (Watch Goal). Following an Orlando equalizer, Acosta again put D.C. ahead when he finished a Yamil Asad pass over the top of the defense with a right-footed touch in front of goal for a 2-1 lead in the 64th minute (Watch Goal).

The 24-year-old Argentine capped his career day with a dramatic goal at the death to give D.C. a 3-2 victory and send the crowd into a frenzy. Rooney made a terrific defensive stop near midfield and launched a long aerial pass into the box, with the 5-3 Acosta elevating to win the header over the Orlando defense and send the ball into the right side of goal to cap a tremendous performance  (Watch Goal). Acosta’s game-winner in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time was the latest goal scored in stoppage time to complete a hat-trick in league history.

United will host the Portland Timbers at Audi Field Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+) before another home match on Sunday against the New England Revolution (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Sports Go / FOX Deportes).

The MLS player of the week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the NASR.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.