Team of the Matchday

Team of the Matchday: Alba, Insigne & Lloris shine in Matchday 4

Some of Major League Soccer’s biggest stars were at their best in Matchday 4, earning spots on the latest Team of the Matchday presented by Audi.

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The attacking trio has globally recognized Designated Players: Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC), Giorgos Giakoumakis (Atlanta United) and Teemu Pukki (Minnesota United FC).

Insigne’s long-distance golazo secured a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC, Giakoumakis’ hat trick powered a 4-1 rout of the New England Revolution, and Pukki’s brace set Minnesota up for a 3-2 victory at Orlando City SC.

Then in midfield, three big-name DPs – Riqui Puig (LA Galaxy), Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls) and Evander (Portland Timbers) – got the nod alongside US international Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids).

Puig’s golazo sparked a 2-2 comeback draw at Nashville SC, while Forsberg marked his Red Bull Arena debut with 1g/1a in a 2-1 win over FC Dallas. Evander’s 97th-minute golazo completed a 2-1 come-from-behind win at New York City FC, and Bassett delivered a 2-1 Rocky Mountain Cup win at Real Salt Lake in his 100th regular-season appearance with Colorado.

From left to right on the backline is as follows: Jordi Alba (Inter Miami CF), Fernando Álvarez (CF Montréal) and Mo Farsi (Columbus Crew).

Despite a 3-2 defeat to Montréal, Alba scored a golazo and was arguably the best player – for either team – in Sunday’s setback. Álvarez’s corner-kick header sparked Montréal’s latest impressive result, and Farsi’s 100th-minute goal finalized a 2-1 win for Columbus over visiting Chicago Fire FC.

LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had a six-save shutout (with some jaw-dropping stops) in a 0-0 draw vs. Sporting Kansas City. And the managerial post belongs to Laurent Courtois, whose Montréal side handed Inter Miami a 3-2 defeat to reach three games unbeaten (2W-0L-1D) on their lengthy road trip to start the year.

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Team of the Matchday (3-4-3, left to right): Hugo Lloris (LAFC) - Jordi Alba (MIA), Fernando Álvarez (MTL), Mohamed Farsi (CLB) - Cole Bassett (COL), Riqui Puig (LA), Emil Forsberg (RBNY), Evander (POR) - Lorenzo Insigne (TOR), Giorgos Giakoumakis (ATL), Teemu Pukki (MIN)

Coach: Laurent Courtois (MTL)

Bench: Alex Bono (DC), Jordi Alba (MIA), Brooks Lennon (ATL), Mathieu Choinière (MTL), Thiago Almada (ATL), Célio Pompeu (STL), Antony (POR), Jacen Russell-Rowe (CLB), Duncan McGuire (ORL)

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.