Soccer <\/p>\n
With the halfway point of the 2025 MLS season coming into view, individual firepower landed stars on the Matchday 17 Team of the Matchday presented by Audi.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Starters:<\/strong> John Pulskamp (SKC) – Peyton Miller (NE), Alexander Hack (RBNY), Ilay Feingold (NE) – Hannes Wolf (NYC), Gabriel Pirani (DC), Eduard L\u00f6wen (STL), Lionel Messi (MIA) – Hugo Cuypers (CHI), Dejan Jovelji\u0107 (SKC), Tani Oluwaseyi (MIN)<\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Javier Mascherano (MIA)<\/p>\n Bench:<\/strong> David Bingham (CLT), Conner Antley (DC), Lucas Sanabria (LA), Luca de la Torre (SD), Keaton Parks (NYC), Robin Lod (MIN), Philip Zinckernagel (CHI), Cameron Harper (RBNY), Sam Surridge (NSH)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Lionel Messi<\/a> couldn’t be stopped in a heavyweight Eastern Conference clash at Chase Stadium, as the Herons\u2019 captain delivered two goals and three assists to pilot Inter Miami CF<\/a>\u2019s 5-1 rout<\/a> of the Columbus Crew<\/a> at Javier Mascherano\u2019s direction. Messi is just the third player in MLS history to notch 2g\/3a in a single match and the second to record at least five goal contributions on two occasions.<\/p>\n Across the front line, TotM strikers bagged braces to secure away victories for their clubs. Tani Oluwaseyi<\/a> netted twice to push Minnesota United FC<\/a> past Seattle Sounders FC<\/a>, 3-2<\/a>, while Hugo Cuypers<\/a> matched his 2024 tally halfway through 2025 (10 goals) for Chicago Fire FC<\/a> with his double to down Orlando City<\/a>, 3-1<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n By the same scoreline, Dejan Jovelji\u0107<\/a> completed his brace with an acrobatic finish while goalkeeper John Pulskamp<\/a> stood up strong between the pipes, delivering eight saves to clinch Sporting Kansas City<\/a>‘s 3-1 victory<\/a> at Houston Dynamo FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Hannes Wolf<\/a> also hit the back of the net twice for New York City FC<\/a> at Nashville SC<\/a>, erasing a two-goal deficit to ensure a point via a 2-2 draw<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Meanwhile, St. Louis CITY SC<\/a> won in their first game of the post-Olof Mellberg era as Eduard L\u00f6wen<\/a> provided a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win<\/a> over the San Jose Earthquakes<\/a>. D.C. United<\/a> midfielder Gabriel Pirani<\/a> stayed red-hot, also tallying 1g\/1a in a 2-1 win<\/a> at FC Cincinnati<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Defenders did it all for the New England Revolution<\/a> at CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a>, as Peyton Miller<\/a> (1g\/1a) and Ilay Feingold<\/a> (2g\/1a) assisted each other while securing a clean sheet en route to a 3-0 win<\/a>. In the process, Feingold became the third-youngest player in club history to record three goal contributions in a match.<\/p>\nTeam highlights<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n