Soccer <\/p>\n
Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidates kicked into high gear and club records were broken, creating natural picks for the Matchday 24 Team of the Matchday presented by Audi.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Starters:<\/strong> Brad Stuver (ATX) – Luca Bombino (SD), Andreas Maxs\u00f8 (COL), Max Arfsten (CLB) – Marco Reus (LA), Djordje Mihailovic (COL), Marcel Hartel (STL), Anders Dreyer (SD) – Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Tani Oluwaseyi (MIN), Lionel Messi (MIA)<\/p>\n Coach:<\/strong> Wilfried Nancy (CLB)<\/p>\n Bench:<\/strong> Alja\u017e Iva\u010di\u010d (NE), Olwethu Makhanya (PHI), Indiana Vassilev (PHI), Albert Rusn\u00e1k (SEA), Diego Rossi (CLB), Chucky Lozano (SD), Kelvin Yeboah (MIN), William Agada (RSL), Idan Toklomati (CLT)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Lionel Messi<\/a> is making a run at the first-ever MLS MVP repeat, notching a fifth consecutive brace in Inter Miami<\/a>\u2019s 2-1 win<\/a> over Nashville SC<\/a>. Stretching six games, the Herons\u2019 captain has scored a record-equalizing 11 goals to bring his season total to 16g\/7a. He now leads the Golden Boot presented by Audi race on tiebreakers, too.<\/p>\n Of course, Anders Dreyer<\/a> kept the pedal to the metal on his MVP campaign in San Diego FC<\/a>\u2019s 2-1 victory<\/a> at Chicago Fire FC<\/a>. Dreyer scored both goals on secondary assists from Luca Bombino<\/a> to keep SDFC atop the Western Conference and himself pacing the MLS goal contribution charts with 26 (11g\/15a).<\/p>\n Staying in SoCal, the LA Galaxy<\/a> beat D.C. United<\/a> (2-1 win<\/a>) and LAFC<\/a> overcame FC Dallas<\/a> (2-0 victory<\/a>) to set up a tasty El Tr\u00e1fico next Saturday (10:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+<\/a>). Each team\u2019s stars are firing on all cylinders, as Marco Reus<\/a> scored his fifth goal of the year and Denis Bouanga<\/a> tallied 1g\/1a in addition to drawing a penalty kick.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of rivalries, the Columbus Crew<\/a> delivered the first two-goal Hell is Real comeback in a 4-2 victory<\/a> over FC Cincinnati<\/a> at TQL Stadium. Max Arfsten<\/a> scored the equalizer from just outside the box on return from USMNT<\/a> duty at the Concacaf Gold Cup<\/a>, as reigning Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Wilfried Nancy’s side has won four of five games.<\/p>\n Also earning a comeback result, St. Louis CITY SC<\/a> beat Portland Timbers<\/a>, 2-1<\/a>, courtesy of a Marcel Hartel<\/a> brace on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Meanwhile, Minnesota United FC<\/a> reached 40 points at the fastest pace in club history (22 games) in their 4-1 triumph<\/a> over the San Jose Earthquakes<\/a>, riding Tani Oluwaseyi<\/a>\u2019s 1g\/2a to victory.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Djordje Mihailovic<\/a> wrote his name in the Colorado Rapids<\/a> history books in their 3-0 win<\/a> over Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a>, providing a hat trick of assists to surpass Mark Chung (38) for the most goal contributions during his first two seasons with the club (39). Andreas Maxs\u00f8<\/a> added a header off a corner kick to boost a shutout at the back.<\/p>\nTeam highlights<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n