VANCOUVER, BC – Major League Soccer announced on Monday that Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Yadaly Diaby was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 31 following his performance in the club's 2-1 away victory at Austin FC. The result, courtesy of an absolute stunner from Diaby himself, saw the ‘Caps remain atop the Western Conference with four matches remaining in the regular season.
Diaby came off the bench in the 65th minute of the match and immediately made his presence felt. Six minutes after coming on, the Guinea international cut inside from the left quadrant of the field and fired an incredible curling strike off the far post and in to give the 'Caps the lead - a second goal for the club that will surely live longer in the memory. In addition to his stunner, Diaby won five successful duels and tallied one successful tackle. This marks Diaby's second selection to the Team of the Matchday since joining Whitecaps FC in September (Matchday 27).
Diaby adds to the continuous presence for Whitecaps FC on the MLS Team of the Matchday this season.
In addition, goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka (Matchday 25), defenders Tristan Blackmon (Matchday 3), MathÃas Laborda (Matchday 4, Matchday 11), and Édier Ocampo (Matchday 22), midfielder Oliver Larraz (Matchday 29), attacking midfielders Ryan Gauld (Matchday 25), Thomas Müller (Matchday 2, Matchday 15, Matchday 19, Matchday 20, Matchday 23, Matchday 28), forwards Emmanuel Sabbi (Matchday 8), Brian White (Matchday 3, Matchday 4, Matchday 7, Matchday 10, Matchday 15, Matchday 22), head coach Jesper Sørensen (Matchday 3, Matchday 15), as well as former midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (Matchday 1, Matchday 3, Matchday 4, Matchday 6, Matchday 12, Matchday 13) have all earned selections this year.
MLS Team of the Matchday 31
F: Idan Toklomati (CLT), Gonzalo Tapia (CLB), Antoine Griezmann (ORL)
M: Morgan Guilavogui (RSL), Héctor Herrera (HOU), MartÃn Ojeda (ORL), Lionel Messi (MIA)
D: Neil Pierre (PHI), Yéimar Gómez Andrade (SEA), Harbor Miller (LA)
GK: Matt Turner (NE)
Coach: Laurent Courtois (CLB)
Bench: Patrick Schulte (CLB), Josh Wynder (NE), Noel Caliskan (RSL), Jonathan Osorio (TOR), Leo Walta (LAFC), Aziel Jackson (MIN), Yadaly Diaby (VAN), Germán Berterame (MIA), Luis Suárez (MIA)
