Bernard Kamungo remained very much alive in the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race after scoring twice in North Texas SC’s home win over St Louis CITY2. The result also extended North Texas SC’s unbeaten run to six matches and kept them alive for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Back-to-back road victories for RNY FC kept the New York-based club in the mix for a playoff spot in the East while Philadelphia Union II set a new club-high by scoring six goals in a dominating 6-1 win over Orlando City B.
Here’s your MLS NEXT Pro week 25 recap by the numbers:
Bernard Kamungo’s race for Golden Boot also extends North Texas SC’s unbeaten run to six
North Texas SC has relied heavily on Bernard Kamungo in 2022 and that trend continued Sunday with the in-form striker remaining in the race for the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot award.
Kamungo scored twice to take his season tally to 16 goals this season, helping NTX down St Louis CITY2 by a 3-1 scoreline. The result also extended NTX’s unbeaten run to six matches, keeping Pa-Modou Kah’s squad in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.
The 20-year-old has already earned a first-team contract with FC Dallas earlier this season, but first will hope to lift the MLS NEXT Pro title later this fall with NTX. Sunday’s brace also helped Kamungo become first in the club’s all-time goalscoring ranks with 23 goals.
Union II’s six-goal outburst on Orlando City B sets new club record
Philadelphia Union II’s dynamic attacking front ran rampant at Subaru Park on Sunday as the Eastern Conference club set a new club record for goals scored.
Quinn Sullivan and Chris Donovan both scored two goals apiece as Union II rolled past Orlando City B 6-1. It was a bounce-back performance for Union II following last week’s loss to RNY FC, one that moved them four points clear of fifth-place Inter Miami II.
Marlon LeBlanc’s squad had never scored more than five goals in a single match, taking their season total to 39 goals (fifth-most in the Eastern Conference).
Union II will head to Revs II on Decision Day, knowing three points could lock up a playoff spot.
Fire II delivers second road shutout of 2022, both at FC Cincinnati 2
Chicago Fire II posted their second road shutout win of 2022 on Sunday with FC Cincinnati 2 being on the receiving end of both.
Omari Glasgow and Missael Rodriguez scored 12 minutes apart in the second half as Fire II picked up a 2-0 victory at Northern Kentucky University. It was Fire II’s third road win of the season, moving them to eighth place in the East.
Fire II cannot make the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, but can finish the season strong with a Decision Day victory over Inter Miami II next weekend.
Caique posts eighth shutout, edges in front of Patrick Schulte for clean sheets lead
Should RNY FC advance to the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, goalkeeper Caique will be a tough one to score against.
Caique registered his eighth clean sheet of the season on Sunday, helping RNY FC escape BMO Field with a 1-0 win over TFC II. The Brazilian shot-stopper edged in front of Crew 2’s Patrick Schulte for the league lead in shutouts with only one week of action to go.
Caique is also second in saves (65) and first in minutes played (2,005) this season. He will certainly be involved in the MLS NEXT Pro Goalkeeper of the Year award later this month.
Real Monarchs earn first shootout result of 2022, extend unbeaten run to four
Real Monarchs had zero luck in shootouts during the earlier stages of the 2022 regular season, but Friday became another first for the franchise.
Jamison Olave’s squad edged Earthquakes II 4-3 on spot kicks after the teams played out a 2-2 score through 90 minutes. It was the first shootout win for Monarchs this season, extending their unbeaten run to four matches in the process.
Axel Kei and Aziz Abdu Kayondo both scored in regulation for Monarchs before Gavin Beavers made a pair of key saves in the shootout. Friday’s result also moved Monarchs to 20 points this season, another positive performance with the end of the season nearing.
Shanyder Borgelin scores seventh goal in last seven appearances
Inter Miami II won’t go down easy in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and Shanyder Borgelin is making sure of it.
Borgelin netted his seventh goal from his past seven appearances as Inter Miami II was edged 6-5 on penalty kicks by Columbus Crew 2 on Sunday. The 20-year-old now has 13 league goals this season, remaining one of the in-form strikers over recent weeks.
Inter Miami II sits in fifth place following the home result and is four points back of Philadelphia Union II with one match in hand.
Rapids 2 register first shutout victory of 2022 season
It has been a long time coming for Colorado Rapids 2, but Erik Bushey’s squad finally got to celebrate a shutout win.
Rapids 2 picked up an impressive result on Sunday, downing Houston Dynamo 2 by a 1-0 scoreline at home. Philip Mayaka’s game-winning goal in the 88th minute proved to be the difference as Rapids 2 handed Dynamo 2 their fourth road defeat of the season.
Both teams finished the match with 10 men apiece as Kyle Edwards and Ralph Priso-Mbongue were both sent off for separate infractions. Abraham Rodriguez didn’t need to make a single save for Rapids 2 as the hosts delivered a blow to Dynamo Dos’ hopes of finishing top of the West.
