The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Conference Final matchups are set after another round of thrilling playoff action.
Columbus Crew 2 and St Louis CITY2 emerged victorious and extended their campaigns for a chance to lift a trophy next week.
In the Windy City, Crew 2 pulled off a road win over Chicago Fire FC II in a nervy 3-2 contest.
St Louis CITY2 took care of business at home, getting the better of a 4-2 scoreline and exacted revenge from last year on The Town FC.
Take a closer look at Sunday's results below, and Saturday's here.
Chicago Fire II (2), Columbus Crew 2 (3)
Make it three straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances for Columbus Crew 2.
Crew 2 booked their return to the conference final on Sunday after defeating Chicago Fire II by a 3-2 scoreline at SeatGeek Stadium. Xavier Zengue scored the decisive goal for Crew 2 while Chase Adams registered two assists.
Gibran Rayo opened the scoring for Crew 2 in the 30th minute after heading home Adams’ cross into the top-left corner.
Fire II fought back before halftime through Luka Prpa’s equalizer in the 41st minute. Christian Koffi set up Prpa before he drilled a low shot into the back of the net.
Crew 2 would take a 2-1 lead into halftime though as Jayden Da’s rebound finish boosted the visitors back in front.
2024 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot winner David Poreba tied things up for Fire II eight minutes into the second half after drawing a penalty kick. Jacob Greene hauled down Poreba in the box, allowing the young forward to score from the spot.
Zengue had the final say though in the 58th minute, drilling a long-range shot into the bottom-left corner.
Stanislav Lapkes made two saves for Crew 2 to help preserve the road victory.
Crew 2 will now face Philadelphia Union II in the Eastern Conference Final next weekend.
"We know that it will be a difficult match," said Crew 2 head coach Kelvin Jones. "Philly is a very well-coached team. Marlon (LeBlanc, Union II head coach) has done an unbelievable job. It will be a difficult match.
"And with a great thing about it and the great thing about this league, too, it's the two of the youngest teams in the league playing for a conference final. I don't think you can ask for anything more than the opportunity that these young players are getting."
St. Louis CITY2 (4), The Town FC (2)
Mykhi Joyner's flair for the dramatic continues.
A brace in extra time sent the fans home happy at CITYPARK in what was possibly their last home match of the season.
Will Richmond came close to breaking the deadlock for The Town FC in the first minute after striking the crossbar from close range.
Brendan McSorley's hot goalscoring run continued for CITY2 as the in-form forward propelled the hosts in front six minutes later. Jayden Reid's cross was finished by McSorley to extend his scoring streak to seven straight matches.
The Town FC answered back though in the 28th minute as Richmond connected with Jamar Ricketts for a 1-1 equalizer. Ricketts, 23, entered the match with zero goals to his name in MLS or MLS NEXT Pro, but ended his drought in a big way.
Emi Ochoa denied John Klein and Hosei Kijima as the match went on, keeping the two teams level.
Riley Lynch came off the bench for The Town FC and propelled the visitors ahead 2-1 after the hour mark. Lynch's tight finish gave him his eighth goal of the year in MLS NEXT Pro play.
However, CITY2 would fight back to tie things up as Gabriel Mikina powered a header past Ochoa for his first goal of 2024.
And the rest was history, Joyner's goals in the 103rd and 123rd minutes sealed the deal and started the celebrations in St. Louis.
"They just never know when they're beat," said CITY2 head coach Bobby Murphy of the comeback win. "They don't know when to put their heads down. They don't know when to quit and they just have this belief in themselves and each other that they'll find a way back into it. So, they did it, and they keep doing it."
