Team of the Week: Sullivan and Surridge score braces that set the tone

In MLS Matchday 26, several decisive performances shaped the Team of the Week, with Cavan Sullivan and Sam Surridge standing out for their crucial goals and impact on key results.

As reported by mlssoccer, the ideal Matchday 26 lineup in a 3-4-3 formation (left to right) features starters: Matt Freese (NYC), Iván Angulo (ORL), Daniel Munie (SJ), Frankie Westfield (PHI), André Luiz (SKC), Nicolás Fernández Mercau (NYC), Ronald Donkor (RBNY), Cavan Sullivan (PHI), Sam Surridge (NSH), Christian Ramírez (ATX) and Rafael Navarro (STL). Marko Mitrović (NE) was named Coach of the Week, while the bench included big names such as Lionel Messi (MIA) and Marco Reus (LA).

Cavan Sullivan continued an extraordinary run for such a young player, extending his goal-contribution streak to seven matches; he scored with a beautiful backheel flick and then provided an assist in the 5-0 win over San Diego FC. His academy teammate Frankie Westfield delivered two assists to preserve Philadelphia Union’s 10-match unbeaten run (8 wins, 0 losses, 2 draws) since the World Cup break. Sam Surridge equalized in stoppage time and finished with a brace in Nashville SC’s 2-2 draw against Inter Miami CF, helping the Eastern Conference leaders maintain their nine-point lead.

Nicolás Fernández Mercau scored with a beautiful strike following a set-piece routine and helped New York City FC win 2-0 at Real Salt Lake, while goalkeeper Matt Freese made two stunning saves to keep a clean sheet. Rafael Navarro continued scoring after his reported $12 million move from the Colorado Rapids to St. Louis CITY SC, netting his second brace in his first two starts and adding an assist in the 4-2 win over Minnesota United, which extended the club’s unbeaten run to 15 matches. André Luiz, Sporting Kansas City’s record signing, opened his MLS account with a spectacular goal following a reported $18 million transfer from Olympiacos. Christian Ramírez scored twice for Austin FC in the 2-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, Iván Angulo contributed to Orlando City’s 3-0 victory over Toronto FC, and Daniel Munie netted the decisive goal in the San Jose Earthquakes’ 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo.

According to mlssoccer, these performances and results determined the composition of the Team of the Week, reflecting the shifts in teams’ form and standings at this stage of the championship.