Toronto FC goalkeeper Luka Gavran has been named to the MLS Team of the Matchday (bench) for Matchday 28 following a standout performance despite a 2-0 result against Supporters’ Shield-leading Nashville SC on Saturday night at GEODIS Park.
Gavran registered a season-high nine saves on the night after facing a season-high 11 shots on target. Down by one in the first half, Gavran denied a close-range shot in the 26th minute from Elias Saad and put a stop to Cristian Espinoza’s 43rd-minute chance to keep the Reds within reach.
Unable to capitalize on their chances in the first half, the Reds saw themselves trailing 2-0 after 45 minutes. The Hamilton, Ontario native gave the visitors a fighting chance after making jaw-dropping saves in the second half, stopping Sam Surridge twice in the 66th and 69th minute.
A trio of shots were fired at Gavran within 15 seconds of each other in the 66th minute. After a one-handed save to deny Surridge’s header, Gavran quickly reacted to deny the rebound shot from Reed Baker-Whiting. Nashville quickly regained possession, with Baker-Whiting taking a long-range strike from just outside the 18-yard box forcing Gavran to once again make the save.
Surridge, who ranks fourth in the league’s regular season goalscoring list, once again was denied by Gavran just three minutes after the English striker’s 66th-minute attempt. Gavran disallowed another header coming from Nashville’s leading goalscorer after an out-swinging corner kick met the head of Surridge at the top of the six-yard box. Gavran came up big for the Reds making the stop and keeping the deficit to two.
The honour marks Gavran’s second MLS Team of the Matchday selection with TFC. In total, Toronto FC have now earned 11 MLS Team of the Matchday selections during the 2026 MLS regular season – Josh Sargent (3), Niklas Dorsch (2), Luka Gavran (2) Emilio Aristizábal (1), José Cifuentes (1), Richie Laryea (1) and Walker Zimmerman (1).
MLS Team of the Matchday – Matchday 28:
F: Milan Iloski (PHI), Prince Owusu (MTL), Preston Judd (SJ)
M: Indiana Vassilev (PHI), Hany Mukhtar (NSH), Thomas Müller (VAN), Kimito Nono (DC)
D: Osaze Urhoghide (DAL), Jack Elliott (CHI), Justin Haak (LA)
GK: Stefan Cleveland (SKC)
Coach: Laurent Courtois (CLB)
Bench: Luka Gavran (TOR), Sean Zawadzki (CLB), Albert Rusnák (SEA), Eduard Löwen (SJ), André Luiz (SKC), Daniel Ríos (MTL), Sergi Solans (RSL), Christian Ramírez (ATX), Jamal Thiaré (CLB)
