The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs got underway on Sunday with eight teams sealing their spots into the conference semifinals.
In the Eastern Conference, No. 8 seed Crown Legacy FC pulled the biggest upset of the round, scoring twice late to eliminate No. 1 seed FC Cincinnati 2.
Out west, No. 1 seed North Texas SC avoided home upset against No. 8 seed Whitecaps FC 2, while No. 4 Tacoma Defiance rolled past No. 6 Ventura County FC in the final match of the night.
Here is a closer look at Sunday's playoff action:
Chicago Fire II (1) - Orlando City B (1) - Fire II advances 5-4 on penalty kicks
Chicago Fire II needed a shootout to seal their spot into the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Ludovic Taillandier's squad outlasted visiting Orlando City B 5-4 in a shootout after the two clubs played out a 1-1 scoreline through 120 minutes. MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot winner David Poreba added to his 2024 tally by scoring his first goal of the postseason.
OCB's Jack Lynn opened the scoring for the visitors after 24 minutes. The former University of Notre Dame standout received a through ball pass in the Fire II box before chipping home into the bottom-left corner.
Fire II would fight back before halftime though as Poreba's one-time finish found the left corner. OCB lost possession at midfield allowing Fire II the opportunity to hit back on the counter attack.
The hosts would go a perfect 5-for-5 from the penalty spot in the shootout.
Favian Loyola's fifth round effort struck the left post before Fire II's Jean Diouf sealed the hosts advancement into the next round.
St. Louis CITY2 (2) - LAFC2 (1)
St. Louis CITY2 erased a first-half deficit against LAFC2 to book its place into the final eight of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
Second-half goals from Brendan McSorley and Mykhi Joyner helped CITY2 rally for a 2-1 home victory on Sunday afternoon.
Nicklaus Sullivan propelled LAFC2 in front 1-0 after 18 minutes. Sullivan received a pass from Erik Duenas before rifling into the top-left corner.
However, CITY2 would fight back in the second half to advance in the postseason.
McSorley headed home Gabriel Mikina’s cross for a 1-1 equalizer, giving him eight goals scored in his last seven appearances.
With both teams pressing for a winning goal, CITY2 received one through Joyner’s close range finish. Caden Glover’s pass was slotted home by Joyner for his 17th combined goal of the season.
CITY2’s Christian Olivares made four saves in the win while also receiving help from the crossbar to deny Luis Muller before the hosts began their comeback.
Philadelphia Union II (1) - NYCFC II (0)
Philadelphia Union II clinched their berth into the East semifinals after downing NYCFC II by a 1-0 scoreline.
C.J. Olney Jr’s 86th minute finish was all Marlon LeBlanc’s squad needed to advance to the final four of the Eastern Conference.
Taylor Calheira had the best offensive look for NYCFC II in the first half but was denied by Union II goalkeeper Andrew Rick.
David Vazquez and Markus Anderson both were denied by NYCFC II’s Alex Rando, which kept the teams level.
With four minutes left to play, Neil Pierre passed the ball upfield to Olney Jr., who scored by hitting it off the crossbar and into the net.
Union II’s ninth home win of the year proved to keep the team’s playoff hopes alive.
The Town FC (2) - Houston Dynamo 2 (1)
The Town FC rode their strong run of form into Sunday's playoff opener by edging visiting Houston Dynamo 2.
Beau Leroux and Joel Garcia both scored for the hosts in a 2-1 home victory over Dynamo Dos. Mattheo Dimareli tied the match for the visitors before halftime, but Garcia propelled The Town FC in front with eight minutes to play.
Leroux opened the scoring for The Town FC in the 29th minute by blasting a missile into the top-left corner. Cruz Medina connected with Leroux before watching the 21-year-old race off in celebration.
Dimareli equalized for Dynamo Dos in the 41st minute with a fine left-footed strike of his own.
Garcia, who came off the bench in the second half, delivered the winning goal for the hosts in the 82nd minute. Edwyn Mendoza slotted Garcia into the Dynamo Dos box before the substitute blasted home into the bottom-left corner.
Emi Ochoa made four saves to help preserve the victory for The Town FC.
FC Cincinnati 2 (1) - Crown Legacy FC (2)
FC Cincinnati 2 looked destined to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals until Crown Legacy FC used two late goals to pull the biggest shock in Sunday's action.
Willian Sangoquiza and Tyger Smalls both delivered goals as Crown Legacy FC defeated FC Cincinnati 2 by a 2-1 scoreline.
Crown Legacy FC goalkeeeper Chituru Odunze was sensational, making seven saves in net. He also received help from his crossbar after Kenji Mboma Dem was denied an opening goal in the second half.
Stefan Chirila's long-range shot in the 79th minute boosted Tyrone Marshall's squad in front 1-0, but Crown Legacy FC did not lie down.
Sangoquiza's header from a Filip Mirkovic cross tied the match two minutes later, and Smalls' long-range shot then beat Paul Walters into the bottom corner for a 2-1 win.
Inter Miami II (2) - Columbus Crew 2 (6)
Columbus Crew 2 might have struggled down the final stretch of the regular season but kicked off their playoff schedule in style.
Crew 2 used goals from six different players to eliminate Inter Miami II by a 6-2 scoreline in Fort Lauderdale.
The visitors got off to a fast start by scoring twice in a six-minute span before the half hour mark.
Chase Adams continued his impressive season by striking first in the 24th minute before Jayden Da extended Crew 2's lead six minutes later.
Yuval Cohen cut Inter Miami II's deficit in the 40th minute, but Crew 2 would recapture their two-goal advantage before the interval.
Chris Rogers' glancing header off a Crew 2 corner kick nestled into the bottom-right corner for a 3-1 visitors lead.
Brent Adu-Gyamfi extended Crew 2's advantage to 4-1 before the hour mark, continuing a dominant performance for the 2022 league champions. Idoh Zeltzer-Zubida pulled another goal back for Inter Miami II but Crew 2 would add two additional strikes in second-half stoppage time.
Anthony Alaouieh and Gibran Rayo padded Crew 2's victory at 6-2. Rayo also added two assists to earn Player of the Match honors.
North Texas SC (3) - Whitecaps FC 2 (2)
North Texas SC avoided a major scare during Sunday's home showdown with Whitecaps FC 2.
Michael Pereira's squad dug deep to claim a 3-2 home victory over their Canadian visitors. Tomas Pondeca played the hero by coming off the bench to deliver the winning goal.
Hebert Endeley needed just eight minutes to propel NTX in front before Diego Garcia extended the hosts lead to 2-0 in the 29th minute.
However, Whitecaps FC 2 would rally in the second half to tie things up. Eliot Goldthorp cut the deficit in half in the 65th minute before the talented playmaker tied the match nine minutes later.
With both teams pressing to find a winning goal, it would be NTX who received one.
Pondeca cut onto his right foot before drilling a right-footed shot into the far right corner.
The West's No. 1 seed held on to seal their place into the Western Conference semifinals.
Tacoma Defiance (4) - Ventura County FC (0)
Tacoma Defiance closed Sunday's action by rolling past Ventura County FC 4-0 at Starfire Sports Complex.
Synder Brunell and Sebastian Gomez opened the scoring for the hosts before Raul Miglietti added a brace to close out a dominant performance.
Brunell kicked off the scoring for the Defiance in the seventh minute, roofing a right-footed effort into the top-right corner.
Gomez's headed finish off of Kalani Kossa-Rienzi's corner kick made it 2-0 to Tacoma before Miglietti's cool finish in the 39th minute made it 3-0 to Herve Diese's men.
Miglietti added his second goal of the night after the hour mark, capping off a strong evening for the Defiance on their home turf.
