Inter Miami CF reeled in another three points to edge closer to the MLS regular season points record. The Columbus Crew clinched second place in the Eastern Conference and set a new club mark for points in a season. Orlando City posted a statement win over a fellow contender to continue their torrid run of form. LAFC extended their winning streak to three straight with an emphatic shutout victory away from home.
Thus all four sides find themselves well-represented in the Team of the Matchday presented by Audi.
Crew star Cucho Hernández leads the line after scoring two flying headers in the 3-2 win over Philadelphia, both of them via deliveries from Dylan Chambost, earning the Frenchman a spot on the TOTM bench. With the brace, Cucho set a new Crew single-season record for goal contributions with his 19 goals and 13 assists, eclipsing Stern John’s 1998 total. Columbus wingback Mo Farsi also features in the XI after an incisive two-way performance highlighted by his fourth goal of the season in league play.
About 100 miles to the southwest, Orlando City secured an impressive 3-1 away win over FC Cincinnati that night, paced by two goals and an assist from Ramiro Enrique. Lions winger Iván Angulo’s contributions to the W also get a MOTM bench nod, as does Oscar Pareja’s management. The Colombian coach has led his side to a 10W-2L-1D record in league play since the start of July and taking down Cincy, who sit four points and one place ahead of them in the East standings, lays down a marker of Orlando’s menace in the postseason.
Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari shined in his MLS and Miami debut, making seven saves to stymie Toronto FC and their 1.3 expected goals as a rotated Herons squad ended the Reds’ Audi MLS Cup Playoffs hopes with a 1-0 win at BMO Field. Striker Leo Campana’s side-volleyed, injury-time winner earns him a place on the TOTM bench, as IMCF extended their unbeaten streak to 10 matches. With a home win over New England on Decision Day, Miami (21W-4L-8D, 71 points) can set a new season points record, breaking the current mark of 73 set by the 2021 Revolution.
Aaron Long anchored the LAFC back line’s clean-sheet performance in a 3-0 win at Sporting Kansas City, ranging forward to lash home a superb curling strike for his first MLS goal of the season. His teammate Denis Bouanga makes the TOTM bench after another trademark attacking display that kept the Black & Gold on pace to push their crosstown rivals LA Galaxy right until the end in the race for first place in the West. The Galaxy, for their part, dispatched Austin FC 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park, as Riqui Puig (0g/1a) powered into the Team of the Matchday as well.
Atlanta United remain alive in the hunt for the final two playoff slots in the East thanks to Alexey Miranchuk’s 1g/1a outing in a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls, and the same can be said for D.C. United after a vital 2-1 road win over New England in which Pedro Santos opened the scoring with a stunning first-time blast just three minutes after the opening whistle.
The St. Louis CITY SC duo of Simon Becher and Marcel Hartel also make TOTM after notching two goals and two assists, respectively, in the Midwesterners’ 3-0 ambush of Houston Dynamo FC, another encouraging result for STL’s 2025 hopes. Santi Rodríguez bagged a rapid-fire brace for New York City on Sunday, helping the Pigeons seize a 3-0 lead after just 21 minutes en route to a 3-1 win over Nashville SC that maintains the Cityzens’ momentum towards the postseason.
Team of the Matchday (3-4-3, left to right): Oscar Ustari (MIA) - Pedro Santos (DC), Aaron Long (LAFC), Mohamed Farsi (CLB) - Marcel Hartel (STL), Riqui Puig (LA), Alexey Miranchuk (ATL), Santiago Rodríguez (NYC) - Ramiro Enrique (ORL), Cucho Hernández (CLB), Simon Becher (STL)
Coach: Oscar Pareja (ORL)
Bench: Jimmy Maurer (DAL), Nathan Harriel (PHI), Iván Angulo (ORL), Diego Luna (RSL), Leonardo Campana (MIA), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Dylan Chambost (CLB), Christian Benteke (DC), Obed Vargas (SEA)
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.
