The dog days of summer are officially here and that means the opportunities for MLS NEXT Pro clubs to claw their way back into the playoff picture are that much more crucial.
Wednesday kicks off Matchday 15’s slate with Orlando City B and Philadelphia Union II facing off as the only clubs with two matches in a four-day span.
Earthquakes II hosting LA Galaxy II square off in a Thursday night Western Conference showdown. Friday’s two-match schedule gets underway with Crown Legacy FC paying TFC II a visit at York Lions Stadium.
A stacked Sunday slate features Colorado Rapids 2’s trip to St. Louis CITY2 and Tacoma Defiance’s home showdown vs. Houston Dynamo 2.
Here is a closer look at the Matchday 15 schedule:
Wednesday - 6/28
Orlando City B vs. Philadelphia Union II - (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Matchday 15’s slate gets underway with Orlando City B hosting Philadelphia Union II on Wednesday night.
Orlando City B suffered their second loss from their past three matches after losing 1-0 to Chicago Fire II on June 15. Despite earning a 4-0 victory over FC Cincinnati 2 back on June 11, OCB needs to start stringing some results together to stay above the playoff line in the East. Jack Lynn continues to lead the team with seven goals this season.
Philadelphia Union II have lost back-to-back matches for the second time this season, which is why they are 10th currently in the East. However, a bye week should help Marlon LeBlanc’s squad, who will have Brandan Craig back available following his U.S. Under-20 men’s national team duty earlier this spring. Craig will try to solidify a Union II backline that conceded five goals to Chicago Fire II in their last match on June 18.
Thursday - 6/29
Earthquakes II vs. LA Galaxy II (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
The MLS NEXT Pro version of the Cali Clasico comes your way on Thursday with Earthquakes II hosting LA Galaxy II at PayPal Park.
Back-to-back road victories for Quakes II have helped Daniel De Geer’s squad move up the West standings over the past two weeks. Eduardo Blancas and Rudi Castro both scored in a 2-1 road win over Houston Dynamo 2 on Sunday, continuing positive seasons for the two attacking talents. Quakes II blanked LA Galaxy II by a 3-0 scoreline in March and will be seeking a second-straight home win over their in-state rivals.
LA Galaxy II have failed to win in regulation in any of their last five matches, most recently suffering a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday. Despite Juan Calderon’s first goal of 2023, Galaxy II have found it tough keeping goals out of their own net, conceding 15 goals over their last five matches. Galaxy II have only registered one clean sheet all season, a theme that will need to change in order to make the playoffs.
Friday - 6/30
TFC II vs. Crown Legacy FC (8 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
A total of 20 points might separate TFC II and Crown Legacy FC in the East table, but the Canadian hosts will be confident after a positive run of form in recent weeks.
Gianni Cimini’s squad have only lost one of their last five matches in regulation, earning points against Inter Miami II, ATL UTD 2, and New England Revolution II in recent weeks. Despite only having three wins out of 15 matches this season, TFC II have earned 11 of their 15 points in total at home. Jesus Batiz remains a key attacking threat, leading TFC II with six goals.
Crown Legacy FC have won three of their last five matches, most recently thumping Chicago Fire II 4-2 on Sunday. Patrick Agyemang led the way with a brace while Vinicius Mello and Marko Filipovic also found the back of the net. Jose Tavares’ men have shown little weakness this season, leading the Eastern Conference, and registering the second-highest goals scored (32) and second-best goal differential (+15).
Real Monarchs vs. Austin FC II (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Real Monarchs snapped their four-match winless run on Sunday and will now seek to defeat Austin FC II on Friday night.
Jamison Olave’s squad outlasted Timbers2 by a 3-2 scoreline on Sunday, using a brace from Bertin Jacquesson and a winning goal from Terron Williams to overturn an early deficit. The 22-year-old Jacquesson became the ninth Monarchs player to score at least one goal this season. Williams is tied for the club-lead with three goals in total in 2023.
Austin FC II’s four-match winning streak ended on Sunday following a 1-0 road loss at the hands of Tacoma Defiance. Brett Uttley’s squad were shutout for the fourth time since May, but ultimately will remain confident heading to Utah this week. Austin FC II blanked Real Monarchs 3-0 on June 2 with David Rodriguez and Valentin Noel both getting on the scoresheet that night.
Sunday - 7/2
Chicago Fire II vs. Columbus Crew 2 (6 p.m. ET)
The third and final regular-season meeting between Chicago Fire II and Columbus Crew 2 takes place on Sunday at SeatGeek Stadium.
Fire II’s four-match unbeaten run came to an end Sunday following a 4-2 road loss to East-leading Crown Legacy FC. Omari Glasgow returned from international duty with a brace in the loss, giving Ludovic Talliander another in-form attacker to call on this Sunday. Fire II would win the season series with a home victory on Sunday after defeating the defending league champions 4-2 back on June 4.
Columbus Crew 2 have won three of their last four matches in regulation, blanking Huntsville City FC 1-0 on Sunday. Coleman Gannon’s second-half strike was all Crew 2 needed to continue their recent surge up the East table. A road victory would move Crew 2 right behind Crown Legacy FC for first place in the East, pending the Conference leaders stumble against TFC II on Friday. Gannon, Gibran Rayo, and Noah Fuson are all key attackers to watch for Crew 2 after combining for 11 goals and eight assists so far in 2023.
FC Cincinnati 2 vs. Orlando City B (7 p.m. ET)
Two Eastern Conference teams coming off recent defeats will meet from Northern Kentucky University on Sunday night.
FC Cincinnati 2 have lost three of their last four matches, which is why they are sitting 11th in the East right now. Tyrone Marshall’s squad possesses several attacking options including Gerardo Valenzuela, but someone needs to start taking charge atop the attacking front. Valenzuela’s three goals are ranked as second-most in the squad out of FCC2’s 23 goals in total.
Orlando City B will be having a double fixture Matchday 15 and will be hoping to earn three points on the road against FCC2, a team they defeated earlier in June by 4-0.
Huntsville City FC vs. New England Revolution II (7 p.m. ET)
The first MLS NEXT Pro showdown between Huntsville City FC and New England Revolution II takes place Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium.
Huntsville City FC’s three-match winning run ended on Sunday after a 1-0 shutout loss to Columbus Crew 2. Still, Jack Collison’s squad have improved over recent weeks, sitting just one victory away from eclipsing the 20-point mark in the Eastern Conference. Kemy Amiche has been a key player for the expansion side in 2023, registering five goals and two assists so far.
New England Revolution II claimed two points out of three in Sunday’s 4-2 shootout win over TFC II. Jordan Adebayo-Smith’s strong season continued as the forward registered his seventh goal of 2023. However, with only one regulation win out of their past five in total, Revs II will be seeking a dominant performance to stay in touching distance of the top-two.
Inter Miami II vs. New York Red Bulls II (7 p.m. ET)
New York Red Bulls II have been up-and-down in recent weeks, but a trip to Inter Miami II is certainly a winnable match on Sunday.
A 3-1 home victory over FC Cincinnati 2 on Sunday featured three first-half goals from Ibrahim Sekagya’s squad at MSU Soccer Park. Ibrahim Kasule has enjoyed a positive season so far, totaling five goals and three assists for the Eastern Conference club. Frank Ssebufu and Davi Alexandre also found the back of the net against FCC2, giving Red Bulls II other players who can chip in this weekend.
Inter Miami II have only won one of their last eight matches in league play, making Sunday’s showdown another crucial fixture for Federico Higuain’s squad. A 2-0 loss to Huntsville City FC on June 18 was the fifth time during the last eight matches that Inter Miami II have been shutout. Lucas Meek and Lawson Sunderland have seven combined goals in 2023 and will need to add to their totals for Inter Miami II to start moving up the table.
MNUFC2 vs. Timbers2 (7 p.m. ET)
Only two points separate MNUFC2 and Timbers2 in the West standings heading into Sunday’s showdown in Blaine, Minn.
MNUFC2 have earned four points out of their last six available, most recently losing 4-3 in a shootout to St. Louis CITY2 last Thursday. Goals have been hard to come by for MNUFC2 over recent weeks, as the Western Conference club has only scored six goals in the last five matches. Emmanuel Iwe and Diogo Pacheco have 10 combined goals in 2023, remaining two leading attacking candidates for Cameron Knowles to call on.
After four-consecutive victories for the first time in their MLS NEXT Pro history, Timbers2 have stumbled over the past two weeks. Back-to-back losses to Austin FC II and Real Monarchs have dropped Timbers2 into 11th place in the West standings. Florian Monzon has been a positive spark over recent weeks, netting six goals in total in 2023. Noel Caliskan, who also has been a bright spot, recently made his MLS debut for the Timbers’ first team.
NYCFC II vs. Philadelphia Union II (7 p.m. ET)
Two Eastern Conference clubs desperately seeking to end their respective losing streaks will meet on Sunday at Belson Stadium.
NYCFC II have lost three-consecutive matches coming into Matchday 15, most recently falling 4-2 to ATL UTD 2 on Sunday. Matthew Myers leads the team with eight goals, but plenty of 2022’s standouts such as John Denis and Jonathan Jimenez have not delivered similar production in comparison to last season. Both Denis and Jimenez will need to step it up if NYCFC II wants to defeat Philadelphia Union II and end their losing run.
Union II is one of two teams playing a double fixture during Matchday 15. Marlon LeBlanc's men will be looking to take down NYCFC II in the first of their three meetings this season.
Sporting KC II vs. Whitecaps FC 2 (7 p.m. ET)
Sporting KC II have only one win from their past five matches, but could tie Whitecaps FC 2 on 26 points apiece with a victory over them on Matchday 15.
Benny Feilhaber’s squad edged North Texas SC 5-4 in a shootout on Sunday after Pau Vidal scored his eighth goal of 2023. Vidal has been key in SKC II’s attack, but Ethan Bryant and Ozzie Cisneros have also been crucial with six combined goals between them this season. Each of the last two head-to-head showdowns with Whitecaps FC 2 have gone to shootouts.
Whitecaps FC 2 have lost back-to-back matches and three of their last five overall in league play. A 2-0 shutout defeat to MNUFC2 paired with a 3-1 home loss to LAFC2 have Whitecaps FC 2 in danger of slipping out of the top-four. Ricardo Clark will hope his defense can turn things around, as their 23 goals conceded are the most out of any Western Conference team in the top-six.
St. Louis CITY2 vs. Colorado Rapids 2 (7 p.m. ET)
Colorado Rapids 2 rebounded from their first loss of 2023 on Sunday and now will aim to start a new winning streak on Matchday 15.
A 5-1 victory over LA Galaxy II on Sunday featured a brace from Calvin Harris and additional goals from Oliver Larraz, Marlon Vargas, and Robinson Aguirre. Erik Bushey’s squad are neck-and-neck with Crown Legacy FC for the top spot in MLS NEXT Pro and know a tough test approaches in the form of St. Louis CITY2. CITY2 edged Rapids 2 5-4 in a shootout back on April 23.
St. Louis CITY2 have earned five points out of their last six available in recent matches against Real Monarchs and MNUFC2. Bobby Murphy’s squad could finish Matchday 15 in the top-four of the Western Conference, should they defeat Rapids 2 on home soil this Sunday. John Klein remains a key goalscoring threat with six goals to his name in 2023 while Wan Kuzain has two goals and three assists so far.
North Texas SC vs. LAFC2 (8:30 p.m. ET)
North Texas SC can complete a regular-season sweep of LAFC2 on Sunday with a victory on home soil.
Despite failing to win in any of their last three matches, NTX will be favorites heading into Sunday’s matchup, knowing they have gotten the better of LAFC2 once in 2023. Hope Avayevu scored the lone goal in a 1-0 triumph back on March 26 and the 20-year-old will aim to deliver a similar performance this time around. Avayevu leads NTX with four goals in 2023, but hasn’t scored in general since May 7.
LAFC2 earned its most-convincing win of 2023, downing Whitecaps FC 2 by a 3-1 scoreline on Sunday. Christian Diaz delivered the opening goal at Swangard Stadium before Yekeson Subah added a second-half brace to pad the victory. Both of LAFC2’s victories this season have come on the road, so luck might be on their side this weekend.
Tacoma Defiance vs. Houston Dynamo 2 (10 p.m. ET)
Sunday’s final match comes from Starfire Sports Complex as Tacoma Defiance welcomes Houston Dynamo 2 to town.
Tacoma Defiance have earned points in each of their last four matches, which included regulation victories over both Colorado Rapids 2 and Austin FC II in the last two weeks. Braudilio Rodrigues leads the team with seven goals in 2023 after delivering the winner against Austin FC II on Sunday. Raul Miglietti has also been key in recent weeks, with three goals and two assists under his belt.
Houston Dynamo 2 have lost back-to-back matches after previously riding a three-match winning streak. Kenny Bundy’s squad lost to Timbers2 and Earthquakes II by respective 2-1 scorelines, dropping to eighth in the West standings. Dynamo Dos have been one of the top three road performers in the West this season, earning 14 points out of a possible 21 so far in 2023. Diego and Yair Gonzalez have 10 combined goals between them this season.
