Toronto FC’s Federico Bernardeschi and Kevin Long have been named to the Major League Soccer (MLS) Team of the Matchday 11 following their performances in Saturday’s 2-1 road win against Orlando City SC at Inter&Co Stadium.
Making a club-leading tenth start of the 2024 MLS campaign, Bernardeschi was instrumental in the Reds’ recording their first come-from-behind victory of the season. Trailing by a goal with minutes to spare, the Euro 2020 winner found Kobe Franklin with a long cross-field pass, whose cross into the box was headed home by Tyrese Spicer for TFC’s 87th minute equalizer. Three minutes later, the Reds completed the second-half comeback in spectacular fashion when Bernadeschi’s tireless work down the right wing resulted in the Italian beating Orlando’s Kyle Smith and setting up Prince Owusu with a right-footed cross for the Reds’ late 90th minute winner. The performance marked Bernardeschi’s second two-assist performance of his Toronto FC career and the MLS Team of the Matchday selection, as a starter, marks the Italian’s seventh honour in his third season with the Reds.
Making his ninth start of the new campaign, Kevin Long played the full 90 minutes at the heart of the Reds’ back-line and defensively helped the side secure all three points on the road. The Irishman led TFC in ball actions (81), passes (68), clearances (5), challenges made (5) and aerial challenges won (5) and ranked amongst the Reds’ top five players in distance covered (9.62 km), top speed (32.27 km/hr), sprints (21) and pass success rate (89.70%) on the night. The defender’s Matchday 11 selection as a substitute marks his first-ever MLS Team of the Matchday honour since joining the club in February.
In total, Toronto FC have now earned 11 MLS Team of the Matchday honours during the 2024 MLS regular season – Sean Johnson (3), Federico Bernardeschi (2), Lorenzo Insigne (2), Deybi Flores (1), Kevin Long (1), Prince Owusu (1) and Tyrese Spicer (1).
MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Matchday – Matchday 11:
F: Jáder Obrian (ATX), Christian Benteke (DC), Lionel Messi (MIA)
M: Santiago Rodríguez (NYC), Timothy Tillman (LAFC), Luciano Acosta (CIN), Federico Bernardeschi (TOR)
D: Alex Katranis (RSL), Sebastien Ibeagha (DAL), Joseph Rosales (MIN)
GK: Chris Brady (CHI)
Coach: Josh Wolff (ATX)
Bench: Jonathan Sirois (MTL), Kevin Long (TOR), Sergio Busquets (MIA), Keaton Parks (NYC), Jack Skahan (SJ), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Corey Baird (CIN), Brian White (VAN), Petar Musa (DAL)
