Team of the Matchday

Team of the Matchday: Hat-trick heroes & comebacks galore

26MLS_TeamoftheMatchday_thumbnail_final

From iconic comebacks to late-game heroics, stars brought the drama to earn their spot on the Matchday 11 Team of the Matchday presented by Audi.

TOTM-MD11

Full team (3-4-3, left to right)

Starters: James Pantemis (POR) - Anthony Markanich (MIN), Reid Roberts (SJ), MathĂ­as Laborda (VAN) - Evander (CIN), Diego Luna (RSL), Carles Gil (NE), Saba Lobjanidze (ATL) - Kelvin Yeboah (MIN), Louis Munteanu (DC), MartĂ­n Ojeda (ORL)

Coach: MartĂ­n Perelman (ORL)

Bench: Roman Celentano (CIN), Ryan Hollingshead (LAFC), Lawrence Ennali (HOU), Zavier Gozo (RSL), Alexey Miranchuk (ATL), Lionel Messi (MIA), Tyrese Spicer (ORL), Christian RamĂ­rez (ATX), Marcus Ingvartsen (SD)

Team highlights

With his team trailing 3-0 in the first half, Martín Ojeda netted a hat trick to lead Orlando City’s historic 4-3 Florida Derby comeback victory over Inter Miami CF, preventing their in-state rivals from earning a first win at Nu Stadium. The halftime speech from interim head coach Martín Perelman clearly worked wonders.

Similarly, FC Cincinnati midfield maestro Evander bagged a hat trick in a 3-2 comeback win at Chicago Fire FC, including scoring the 97th-minute winner from the penalty spot.

Carles Gil also potted his 97th-minute penalty to secure the New England Revolution’s 1-0 home triumph against Charlotte FC.

The comebacks kept rolling in Columbus as Kelvin Yeboah’s brace kicked off a 3-2 triumph for Minnesota United FC, capped by Anthony Markanich’s 74th-minute winner.

Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake star Diego Luna recorded his 50th MLS goal contribution (25g/25a) with a goal in his side’s 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers. Despite the loss, Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis made an impressive 13 saves.

Club-record signing Louis Munteanu scored both goals in D.C. United’s 2-0 victory over New York City FC at Citi Field, helping the Black-and-Red climb to fifth in the Eastern Conference. 

Atlanta United winger Saba Lobjanidze also scored a brace, netting an MLS goal for the first time since October 2024 in a 3-1 win over CF Montréal.

Defenders got in on the drama as well, with MathĂ­as Laborda scoring a late equalizer for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a 1-1 draw at LA Galaxy and Reid Roberts producing an incredible 86th-minute goal-line clearance in the San Jose Earthquakes' 1-1 draw at Toronto FC.