10/10 - Matchday 28

Player of the Matchday

Carlo Holse

Welcome to the Carlo Holse show. The Dane scored three times in the first 21 minutes of Sunday Night Soccer, netting the second fastest hat trick from the opening whistle in MLS history. Holse's first was a sliding effort to get on the end of a cross, his second was a brilliant finish across his body, and his final was a delicate touch to the bottom corner after a world class first touch off his chest. Holse also put in strong defensive work and created numerous chances for his teammates.

Photo via LA Times

Young Player of the Matchday

Idan Toklomati

Idan Toklomati led his Charlotte FC side to an improbable 3-2 victory, igniting the comeback with his first of two goals in the 70th minute. He added an assist off a set piece as well. His movement in and around the 18 yard box is elite, and it's why he's reached double figures again for goals in MLS play. Charlotte are at their best when Toklomati is as impactful as he was this weekend in their top of the table clash with FC Dallas.

Photo via CLTure

Goal of the Matchday

Brandon Vázquez

Vázquez scored a fabulous goal to bring Austin within one goal of Nashville. While Austin eventually lost to Nashville, that takes nothing away from the quality of Vázquez's finish. Facundo Torres whipped a ball into the box that Vázquez controlled with his chest. The ball bounced to his midsection, and instead of waiting for the ball to fall to a favorable position, as Nashville defender Daniel Lovitz was applying pressure, Vázquez acrobatically volleyed the ball home with his right foot. This unorthodox finish showcased his ingenuity and technique and should provide the number 9 with the confidence that he had when he was lethal for FC Cincinnati.

Assist of the Matchday

Santiago Rodríguez

Santiago Rodríguez is a wizard. Picking up the ball on the turn, Rodríguez dribbled sideways across the field before slipping Habroune in on goal with a disguised through ball that cut right through the center of Orlando's defense. The deception used by Rodríguez was key to this play. He played the ball with the outside of his right, even with his body shaping up to continue cutting across the field. Nobody could've seen this coming, and it showed with Brekalo stepping out of the backline. The placement was also perfect. Rodríguez's pass split 4 Orlando defenders and landed right in the path of Habroune's run.

Statistic of the Matchday

2 Goals from CFs

For the first time all season, a true center forward has scored for the Houston Dynamo in the MLS. And it happened not once, but twice, with Lyle Foster and Duncan McGuire finding the back of the net in a 2-2 draw. Both were number 9 goals: Foster pounced on a mistake and cleanly finished off a breakaway while McGuire headed home a chance set up by strike partner Nick Markanich. It took Houston 28 matches, but they finally had one of their center forwards get on the scoresheet.

Team of the Matchday

LF: Rafael Navarro

RF: Idan Toklomati

LM: Maren Haile-Selassie

CM: Hassani Dotson

CM: Ronald Donkor

RM: Carlo Holse

LB: Devin Padelford

LCB: Mbekezeli Mbokazi

RCB: Dave Romney

RB: Frankie Westfield

GK: Andrew Thomas

Team of the Matchday photos via MLSSoccer.com

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