Six 'Caps named to MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 33

VANCOUVER, BC – Major League Soccer announced on Monday that six members of Vancouver Whitecaps FC have been named to MLS' Team of Matchday for Matchday 33 after the club's empathic, MLS Cup Playoffs-clinching, 7-0 victory against Philadelphia Union in front of a third consecutive sold-out crowd at BC Place. Thomas Müller, Ali Ahmed, Sebastian Berhalter, Mathías Laborda, Emmanuel Sabbi, and head coach Jesper Sørensen all earned their place in the Team of the Matchday. The win was the first time the 'Caps scored seven goals in their MLS era and marked the club's largest margin of victory, while also equaling the MLS record.

Müller led the way by scoring a hat-trick, becoming the first player in MLS history to so on their birthday, while adding an assist. The Raumdeuter now has four goals and one assist in his opening three matches with the 'Caps, helping the team to an unbeaten record of 2W-0L-1D. It was also his sixth-career hat-trick, with his last one coming with FC Bayern Munich on April 17, 2018 in the DFB-Pokal semifinal against Bayer Leverkusen. In addition, Müller tallied two chances created, two successful dribbles, four successful duels won, and 81% passing accuracy. This is Müller's second consecutive match being named to the MLS Team of the Matchday, having earned the recognition on August 23 for scoring his first Whitecaps FC and MLS goal in the 3-2 comeback victory over St. Louis CITY SC.

Fresh off of returning from international duty with Canada, Ahmed was an influential piece of the 'Caps attack during the match, earning his seventh assist across all competitions on Sabbi's first goal of the night and drawing the second penalty kick after suffering a foul from the Union's Alejandro Bedoya. This is Ahmed's first selection to the MLS Team of the Matchday this season, becoming the 12th member of Whitecaps FC to earn a selection this season.

Another 'Caps international found his groove on Saturday in the form of Berhalter, after returning from the international window with the United States' men's national team. The 24-year-old recorded his ninth, 10th, and 11th assists of the season across all competitions, becoming the first 'Caps player to record three assists in a match since Jayden Nelson accomplished the feat against Portland Timbers in the opening match of the MLS regular season back in February. This marks Berhalter's third selection to the MLS Team of the Matchday this season (Matchday 4, Matchday 25).

Laborda also earned his third selection to the team this season after scoring the opening goal on Saturday (Matchday 3, Matchday 27). All four of Laborda's goals this season have come at BC Place, after his three prior goals for the club had all come on the road. The Uruguayan also put in a shift at the back for the 'Caps, recording six successful duels won, five recoveries, three clearances, two interceptions, and one successful tackle to help Yohei Takaoka register his league-leading 12th clean sheet of the regular season.

Meanwhile, Sabbi scored his first brace with the 'Caps, finishing off a wonderful cross from Ahmed and then majestically curling in a brilliant, left-footed finish in the second half after being set up by Müller. The winger is now up to eight goals in his first season with the club, taking him up to 12 goal contributions across all competitions in what's shaped up to be a career-year for the U.S. international. This is Sabbi's third selection to the MLS Team of the Matchday this season (Matchday 8, Matchday 21).

Last but certainly not least, Jesper Sørensen has continued his evolutionary first season with the club in stunning fashion, guiding the 'Caps to a third consecutive MLS Cup Playoffs berth for the first time in club history (fourth time in five years) and marking the earliest the club has ever clinched an MLS Cup Playoffs berth. Saturday's monsterous win has taken the 'Caps up to sixth in the Supporters' Shield standings with a 15-6L-7D record (52 points), with games in hand on several teams around them. The victory also marked the first time the 'Caps have ever scored four goals in a first half in an MLS match and has put them ever closer to surpassing more records as the regular season nears it's curtain call:

• With 52 points, the 'Caps are now only one point behind their best season total of 53 points set in 2015
• The 'Caps are one win away from tying their best-ever MLS regular season win total from 2015 (16 wins), and are now one home win away from equalling their best-ever MLS regular season home win total from 2021 & 2022 (10 wins)
• The 'Caps are one goal away from tying their most goals scored in an MLS season with 55 from 2023, and now lead MLS with a +23 goal difference

Hat tip to you Mr. Sørensen. This is the Dane's third selection to the MLS Team of the Matchday this season (Matchday 4, Matchday 8).

Tristan Blackmon (Matchday 4, Matchday 7, Matchday 12). Édier Ocampo (Matchday 9), J.C. Ngando (Matchday 27), Pedro Vite (Matchday 1, Matchday 10), Jayden Nelson (Matchday 1), and Brian White (Matchday 2, Matchday 8, Matchday 12, Matchday 15) have also received Team of the Matchday recognition for their performances thus far during the regular season.

F: Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Idan Toklomati (CLT), Thomas Müller (VAN)
M: Emmanuel Sabbi (VAN), Evander (CIN), Nectarios Triantis (MIN), Diego Rossi (CLB)
D: Bernard Kamungo (DAL), Miki Yamane (LA), Alex Freeman (ORL)
GK: Dayne St. Clair (MIN)

Coach: Jesper Sørensen (VAN)

Bench: Kristijan Kahlina (CLT), Mathías Laborda (VAN), Conrad Wallem (STL), Sebastian Berhalter (VAN), Ali Ahmed (VAN), Dániel Gazdag (CLB), Zavier Gozo (RSL), Jamal Thiaré (ATL), Danny Musovski (SEA)

Whitecaps FC are right back in action this coming Tuesday, September 16 as they host Forge FC in the second leg of the TELUS Canadian Championship semifinals at BC Place. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT. For tickets, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.