If you weren’t already on the hype train for Loudoun United’s Abdellatif Aboukoura, it’s time to jump aboard before it leaves you in the dust.

The 20-year-old playmaker might have as big a spotlight on him as he’s ever had, but against Detroit City FC on Saturday evening at Segra Field the Virginia native delivered another masterclass performance to send the hosts to a 3-2 victory, their first against Le Rouge in club history.

• SHIFTING GEARS: Having gone behind early, Aboukoura came into the game midway through the half. His first shot of the game rattled the crossbar and almost resulted in Keegan Tingey scoring on the rebound, only for Devon Amoo-Mensah’s great goal line clearance for DCFC to deny the hosts.

• TURNING THE TIDE: Aboukoura continued to try and find pockets of space as Loudoun built pressure in the final 15 minutes of the half, and while that at times forced him into wider spaces in the 38th minute he found a way to deliver anyway. Receiving a pass that skipped through the midfield cut through a pair of defenders with his close control and fired home to the far post for his first goal of the night.

• STOPPAGE-TIME STRIKE: The second arrived in first-half stoppage time as Loudoun took advantage of an opportunity to spring in transition. After initially moving centrally, Aboukoura fanned out to the right to offer a passing lane for Florian Valot to pick him out in space. After his first touch lifted off the turf, Aboukoura confidently struck home for his 10th goal of the season.

• HOW’S YOUR TOUCH: The Egyptian youth international capped the result for Loudoun with a key role in Zach Ryan’s winner. Receiving possession on the left flank, his deft curled pass for the underlapping run of Kwame Awauh played the Canadian into the penalty area, and his cutback cross was put home confidently by Ryan into the right corner.

The result was crucial for Loudoun as the side kept pace with Louisville City and Charleston Battery at the top of the Eastern Conference on a Saturday that saw all three clubs take victory. It also kept the side undefeated at home this season, while showing the resilience to produce a result despite Detroit offering a solid road performance that was undone by Aboukoura and his teammates’ creativity.

“They tested us, and I think we tested ourselves as well,” said Ryan. “We made it difficult for ourselves in key moments towards the end of the first half and a couple moments where we could have kept the ball and maybe taken the pressure off ourselves. The attitude of the guys to respond to their goal and then their equalizer was remarkable, and I think the belief that we were going to find the next goal needed to get those three points helped us find this victory.”

In the middle of it all – as he has throughout this season – was Aboukoura. In 12 appearances he’s already doubled his goal total from a season ago with his 10 tallies sitting second in the Championship to Charleston’s Cal Jennings for the lead in the Golden Boot.

While the Championship has seen players earn All-League First Team honors alongside being voted Young Player of the Year, no-one has previously been nominated for the Player of the Year award, let alone win both in the same season.

For Aboukoura, that possibility currently seems within reach as Loudoun continues the best campaign in its history.