FC Cincinnati’s Pavel Bucha was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 17, the league announced Thursday. Additionally, Evander was named to the Team of the Matchday bench.
Bucha earned the honors following his third-career brace for FC Cincinnati as the Orange and Blue knocked off Western Conference first-place side Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 4-3, Wednesday night. Bucha’s two goals marked his 16th and 17th career goals scored for FCC, moving him alone into 10th in club history in goals scored.
Bucha bookended Cincinnati’s goal tally Wednesday night, opening the scoring in the 9th minute. His 56th minute goal would prove to be his third-career game-winning goal for Cincinnati.
Evander earned Team of the Matchday bench honors following his performance with a goal and an assist in the 4-3 win. He secured his sixth-straight game with a goal contribution, his longest consecutive streak with a goal and/or an assist with FC Cincinnati and the third-longest streak in club history.
With a goal and assist, Evander brought his career goal contribution total with FC Cincinnati to 59, one shy of Brandon Vazquez (60) for second-most in club history.Â
Bucha and Evander’s honors are the 14th and 15th Team of the Matchday honors for an FC Cincinnati player this season. The full list and the Team of the Matchday for Matchday 17 is listed below.
2026 FC Cincinnati MLS Team of the Matchday Player Recognitions
- Miles Robinson (1)
- Ender Echenique (5)
- Evander (8-Bench, 11, 14-Bench, 15, 17-Bench)
- Kévin Denkey (9-Bench, 10)
- Roman Celentano (10-Bench, 11-Bench)
- Tom Barlow (14)
- Kenji Mboma Dem (15-Bench)
- Pavel Bucha (15-Bench, 17)
2026 MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 17
F: Luis Suárez (MIA), Kevin Kelsy (POR), Son Heung-Min (LAFC)
M: Antoine Griezmann (ORL), Marcel Hartel (STL), Eduard Atuesta (ORL), Pavel Bucha (CIN)
D: Kai Wagner (PHI), Loïc Williams (COL), David Brekalo (ORL)
GK: Maxime Crépeau (ORL)
Coach: Marc Dos Santos (LAFC)
Bench: Brian Schwake (NSH), ElÃas Báez (ATL), Mark Delgado (LAFC), Evander (CIN), Ryan Gauld (VAN), Nicolás Fernández Mercau (NYC), Denis Bouanga (LAFC), Myrto Uzuni (ATX), Dejan Joveljić (SKC)
FC Cincinnati return to action Saturday, July 25 for the first leg of the Hell is Real derby at Columbus Crew. Kickoff from ScottsMiracle-Gro Field is set for 7:15 p.m. ET and the match airs on FS1, Apple TV and over the radio locally in English on iHeart Media ESPN 1530 and Spanish on La Mega 101.5 FM.
The Orange and Blue return home Saturday, August 1 to take on San Jose Earthquakes. Tickets are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK.