MLS Matchday 33 Team of the Matchday presented by Audi highlights Crew surge, Charlotte’s run and Whitecaps momentum

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

MLS has named its Team of the Matchday presented by Audi for Matchday 33, spotlighting players across the league as clubs push deeper into Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs contention. The featured lineup includes standouts from multiple contenders and illustrates how late-season swings are shaping the postseason picture across both conferences.

In the Eastern Conference, the Columbus Crew entered the wild-card mix after a 2-0 win at Western Conference contender FC Dallas. MLS credited midfielder Santiago Rodríguez with driving the outcome, recording a goal and an assist, while goalkeeper Patrick Schulte was recognized for seven saves in the clean-sheet effort.

Charlotte FC, meanwhile, earned a third straight playoff berth under head coach Dean Smith after a 4-0 victory over CF Montréal. MLS said the win was powered by Liel Abada, who scored a hat trick off the bench, extending Charlotte’s momentum at a key point in the season.

The New England Revolution also received attention for a result that strengthened their standing in the East. MLS reported that New England beat Red Bull New York 3-2 to maintain the No. 2 seed, with club legend Carles Gil reaching a milestone of 100 regular-season assists. MLS said Gil provided the setup for striker Dor Turgeman, who scored his first of two goals in the match.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC drew a separate spotlight as the season’s top-end race intensified. MLS reported that Vancouver’s 4-1 win over San Diego FC moved the club closer to clinching the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, citing a vital goal-line clearance by defender Mathías Laborda. The matchup also featured midfielder Ryan Gauld, who added to his scoring impact with a goal and an assist, and MLS linked his production to his Comeback Player of the Year case.

Several other featured results extended the league-wide playoff narrative. MLS noted that Antoine Griezmann contributed to Orlando City’s 2-2 draw at Chicago Fire FC with a goal and an assist. The league also described Griezmann as a Newcomer of the Year candidate, referencing his streak of goal contributions and his production across the ongoing regular season.

In Portland, Kristoffer Velde was recognized after he helped keep the Portland Timbers’ playoff hopes alive with a 3-2 win at St. Louis CITY SC. MLS credited Velde with two goals and an assist, and it said he has reached 20 goal contributions for the year.

Defensively, Houston Dynamo FC received notice through Lucas Halter, who scored his first MLS goal in a 1-0 win at Seattle Sounders FC. MLS said the goal placed Houston within striking distance of the West’s No. 2 seed, adding to the competitive pressure around late postseason positioning.

Finally, Minnesota United FC was represented by Anthony Markanich after he scored to reach nine goals for the second consecutive season. MLS said Markanich helped spark a 3-1 comeback victory over Sporting Kansas City, rounding out the Matchday 33 selections.

The Team of the Matchday lineup named by MLS for Matchday 33 lists Patrick Schulte (Columbus) as goalkeeper, with defensive selections including Anthony Markanich (Minnesota), Lucas Halter (Houston) and Mathías Laborda (Vancouver). In midfield, MLS named Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City), Ryan Gauld (Vancouver), Santiago Rodríguez (Columbus) and Carles Gil (New England). The starting attacking group in the official team includes Kristoffer Velde (Portland), Dor Turgeman (New England), and Liel Abada (Charlotte). The team’s coach is listed as Dean Smith of Charlotte FC.

MLS also published a bench that features Jonathan Bond (Houston), Maxwell Woledzi (Nashville SC), Samuel Gidi (FC Cincinnati), Jack Jasinski (San Jose Earthquakes), Jonathan Bamba (Chicago Fire), David Da Costa (Portland), Morgan Guilavogui (Real Salt Lake), Josh Sargent (Toronto FC), and Idan Toklomati (Charlotte).

With Matchday 33 already reflected in these results, the Team of the Matchday selections underscored how individual performances fed into broader conference movement, including Columbus’ wild-card climb, Charlotte’s continuation of playoff qualification, and Vancouver’s push toward the Western Conference’s top seed.