Team of the Matchday

Team of the Matchday: Insigne, Mukhtar rise above in Matchday 15

Matchday 15 is in the books and some of the league’s biggest stars turned in Team of the Matchday presented by Audi-worthy performances.

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Lorenzo Insigne, amid a tumultuous week for Toronto FC, supplied two crucial assists in a 2-1 win over D.C. United. The Italian star is joined at forward by Philadelphia Union striker JuliĂ¡n Carranza and Sporting Kansas City winger DĂ¡niel SallĂ³i. Carranza had two goals in first-half stoppage time of a 3-1 win at New York City FC, while SallĂ³i had one goal in a 4-1 comeback win over the Portland Timbers.

A trio of Designated Players take up the midfield spots: Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo FC), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) and Eduard Löwen (St. Louis CITY SC). Herrera and Mukhtar both had one goal and one assist, with the former’s in a 2-1 Copa Tejas victory over Austin FC and the latter’s in a 3-1 win over the Columbus Crew. Löwen, for his part, bossed a 3-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC and curled home a long-range free kick.

FC Dallas center back Nkosi Tafari (at San Jose Earthquakes) and Orlando City SC fullback Kyle Smith (home to Atlanta United) both scored in 1-1 draws, while Nashville left back Daniel Lovitz had two assists for one of the league’s hottest teams. 

Seattle Sounders FC center back Yeimar GĂ³mez Andrade was dominant in a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls, helping his club regain the Western Conference lead. And CF MontrĂ©al goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois kept the good times rolling at Stade Saputo with five saves in a 1-0 win over Inter Miami CF. 

Philadelphia’s Jim Curtin gets Coach of the Matchday honors following a road W at NYCFC, all as the Union move to seven games unbeaten in league play (5W-0L-2D).

Team of the Matchday (4-3-3, left to right): Jonathan Sirois (MTL) - Daniel Lovitz (NSH), Nkosi Tafari (DAL), Yeimar GĂ³mez Andrade (SEA), Kyle Smith (ORL) - HĂ©ctor Herrera (HOU), Hany Mukhtar (NSH), Eduard Löwen (STL) - Lorenzo Insigne (TOR), JuliĂ¡n Carranza (PHI), DĂ¡niel SallĂ³i (SKC)

Coach: Jim Curtin (PHI)

Bench: Stefan Frei (SEA), Damion Lowe (PHI), Matt Miazga (CIN), Harrison Afful (CLT), Noel Buck (NE), Erik Thommy (SKC), Xherdan Shaqiri (CHI), Justin Meram (CLT), Gyasi Zardes (ATX)

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Audi Goals Drive Progress

MLS Academies have been identified as one of the most important resources for building on-field talent in North America. Through the Audi Goals Drive Progress initiative, Audi has committed $1 million per season in an effort to advance academies league-wide, and to drive progress for the sport. For every goal scored in the regular season, Audi will contribute $200 into the Audi Goals Drive Progress fund to directly support each MLS Club Youth Academy.