Several of MLS's biggest stars stepped up during Matchday 21, earning them starting spots on the Team of the Matchday presented by Audi.
Full team (3-4-3, left to right)
Starters: Roman Celentano (CIN) - Franco Negri (HOU), Neil Pierre (PHI), Maxwell Woledzi (NSH) - Alhassan Yusuf (NE), Evander (CIN), Tristan Muyumba (ATL), Joaquín Valiente (DAL) - Kristoffer Velde (POR), Petar Musa (DAL), Jack Harrison (NE)
Coach: Ben Olsen (HOU)
Bench: Damian Las (ATX), Tomás Jacob (ATL), Ramiro (DAL), Niklas Dorsch (TOR), Diego Luna (RSL), Calvin Harris (SKC), Noah Streit (MTL), Joseph Paintsil (LA), Robert Lewandowski (CHI)
Team highlights
FC Dallas striker Petar Musa extended his Golden Boot presented by Audi lead, scoring twice in a 4-3 win at Real Salt Lake. The Croatian marksman now has a league-high 16 goals and was supported by 1g/2a from attacking midfielder Joaquín Valiente.
FC Cincinnati maestro Evander has reached a league-high 23 goal contributions, courtesy of a 91st-minute winner in a 2-1 triumph over New York City FC. The perennial Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate has 12 goals and 11 assists this year.
The New England Revolution stormed to a 3-0 win at D.C. United, led by a hat trick from midfielder Alhassan Yusuf and a trio of assists from winger Jack Harrison. Those star performances snapped New England's three-game winless skid.
Kristoffer Velde paced the Portland Timbers with 1g/2a in a 3-1 victory against San Diego FC, the club's first MLS win under new head coach Martí Cifuentes. Meanwhile, Tristan Muyumba scored for the third straight match – this time a game-winner on the counterattack – as Atlanta United secured a 2-1 victory at Minnesota United FC.
Ben Olsen-led Houston Dynamo FC are now first in the Western Conference table, courtesy of Franco Negri's long-range golazo in a 1-0 win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. And Nashville SC's lead atop the Supporters' Shield standings sits at seven points after Maxwell Woledzi's second-half stoppage-time header sealed a 1-0 win at Red Bull New York.
Philadelphia Union center back Neil Pierre continues to impress, heading home the equalizer in a 2-2 comeback draw vs. Inter Miami CF. The 18-year-old homegrown defender has three goals in five games since slotting into Philly's starting lineup after the FIFA World Cup break.
Rounding out the TotM, FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano made seven saves in his team's 2-1 win vs. NYCFC.
