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Team of the Matchday: Sullivan, Surridge score sensational braces
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- Team of the Matchday: Sullivan, Surridge score sensational braces
Team of the Matchday: Sullivan, Surridge score sensational braces
By Justin Ruderman
Who rose to the occasion during Matchday 26? Team of the Matchday presented by Audi features the league's latest standouts.
Full team (3-4-3, left to right)
Starters: Matt Freese (NYC) - Iván Angulo (ORL), Daniel Munie (SJ), Frankie Westfield (PHI) - André Luiz ( SKC ), Nicolas Fernández Mercau (NYC), Ronald Donkor ( RBNY ), Cavan Sullivan (PHI) - Sam Surridge (NSH), Christian Ramírez (ATX), Rafael Navarro (STL)
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Coach:Marko Mitrović (NE)
Bench: Angus Gunn (SJ), Marco Reus (LA), Pep Biel (CLT), Carlo Holse (STL), Agustín Ojeda (NYC), Lionel Messi (MIA), Indiana Vassilev (PHI), Kévin Denkey (CIN), Dor Turgeman (NE)
Team highlights
Philadelphia Union phenom Cavan Sullivan extended his record-setting goal-contribution streak for a teenager to seven games, netting a fantastic backheel flick to ignite his first MLS brace before adding an assist in a 5-0 rout at San Diego FC .
Fellow Union homegrown Frankie Westfield joined the Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire party with a pair of assists to continue Philly's 10-game unbeaten streak since the FIFA World Cup break (8W-0L-2D).
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Sam Surridge came up clutch with a stoppage-time equalizer to complete his double in Nashville SC 's 2-2 draw at Inter Miami CF , maintaining the Supporters' Shield leaders' nine-point lead atop the Eastern Conference.
Preserving his top-three position in the Golden Boot presented by Audi race, Nicolas Fernández Mercau curled home a stunning strike following a set-piece routine to spark New York City FC 's 2-0 win at Real Salt Lake .
Among his six stops, USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese produced a jaw-dropping double save as NYCFC posted a clean sheet.
Rafael Navarro can't stop scoring since his $12 million trade from the Colorado Rapids to St. Louis CITY SC , bagging his second brace in two starts while adding an assist to push the Midwesterners' league-best unbeaten streak to 15 games with a 4-2 victory over Minnesota United FC .
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Speaking of blockbuster moves, Sporting Kansas City club-record signing André Luiz opened his MLS account with a bar-down banger in front of his new home fans during a 3-1 upset of LAFC , following a reported $18 million move from Olympiacos.
Austin FC also pulled off a surprise win, toppling Western Conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps FC , 2-1 at BC Place, courtesy of a brace from striker Christian Ramírez .
Iván Angulo added the exclamation mark as Orlando City cruised past Toronto FC , 3-0 , for their fourth win in five games unbeaten amid a strong Audi MLS Cup Playoffs push. Meanwhile, Daniel Munie secured consecutive victories for the San Jose Earthquakes by scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Houston Dynamo FC .
Rounding out the TotM from the touchline, first-year head coach Marko Mitrović guided the New England Revolution to a 2-1 triumph at Chicago Fire FC , solidifying their third-place spot in the East with a fourth win in five away matches.
