Another busy slate of MLS NEXT Pro regular season action comes your way this weekend with several teams seeking to power through the brutal summer schedule.
Matchday 17’s slate begins Wednesday with New England Revolution II hosting Crown Legacy FC in the match of the week. LA Galaxy II hosts LAFC2 in a rivalry showdown in California while Philadelphia Union II also visits TFC II.
Saturday also features one match as Timbers2 visit Whitecaps FC 2 in the MLS NEXT Pro version of a Cascadia Cup clash.
A nine-match Sunday schedule gets underway with FC Cincinnati 2 hosting Inter Miami II in Eastern Conference play. North Texas SC travels to in-state rivals Houston Dynamo 2 in Western Conference action while Tacoma Defiance also visits LA Galaxy II.
Here is a closer look at the Matchday 17 schedule:
Wednesday - 7/12
New England Revolution II vs. Crown Legacy FC (11 a.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Wednesday’s three-match schedule gets started early with New England Revolution II welcoming Crown Legacy FC to town.
Clint Peay’s squad are unbeaten in three-straight matches coming into this top-two clash from Gillette Stadium. A 2-0 victory over Inter Miami II on Sunday featured goals from Peyton Miller and Malcolm Fry and a seven-save clean sheet for Jacob Jackson. A home victory would move Revs II just three points back of the Eastern Conference leaders.
Crown Legacy FC will try and pad its lead at the top of the East with three points on Wednesday. Jose Tavares’ men have won three-straight league matches and overall are unbeaten in their last five overall. Patrick Agyemang scored twice in Sunday’s 3-1 triumph over ATL UTD 2, continuing a strong run of form for the attacker. Agyemang now has seven goals in MLS NEXT Pro, which leads the Crown Legacy FC squad.
TFC II vs. Philadelphia Union II (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
Philadelphia Union II will be seeking a third-straight victory on Wednesday with TFC II standing in their way.
Back-to-back triumphs over Orlando City B and NYCFC II have given Marlon LeBlanc’s squad a shot of confidence, moving them to ninth place in the East table. Four different players have scored in recent weeks for Union II, including Chris Donovan and Jeremy Rafanello, who have two goals apiece. Rafanello leads the team with six goals in total while Donovan has four tallies of his own.
Luciano Sanchez has also been one of Union II’s key youngsters, earning Rising Star of the Month honors for June.
TFC II have failed to win any of their last six matches in regulation, losing to both Crown Legacy FC and Columbus Crew 2 in recent weeks. Despite taking points from ATL UTD 2 and New England Revolution II, Gianni Cimini’s men have struggled for results, which has been a common theme in 2023. Six different TFC II players have registered three goals or more this season with Jesus Batiz and Hugo Mbongue leading the way.
LA Galaxy II vs. LAFC2 (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
LAFC2 extended their unbeaten run to three matches after defeating in-state rivals Earthquakes II by a 2-1 scoreline. Six different players have scored goals for LAFC2 over that span including Yekeson Subah, who leads the team with three goals of his own. Christian Torres is one of LAFC2’s leading playmakers with three assists and one goal under his belt.
LA Galaxy II’s six-match winless run came to an end on Sunday after claiming an important 1-0 victory over St. Louis CITY2. Carson Klein scored his first MLS NEXT Pro goal in the process while Galaxy II also earned their first clean sheet since May 21 (2-0 win over Timbers2). With points earned in three of their last four matches, Galaxy II will now try and knock off in-state rivals LAFC2.
Friday - 7/14
Real Monarchs vs. Colorado Rapids 2 - (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Real Monarchs’ three-match unbeaten run will be put to the test on Friday with Colorado Rapids 2 making the trip to Zions Bank Stadium.
Jamison Olave’s squad blanked MNUFC2 by a 2-0 scoreline on Sunday, using goals from Ilijah Paul and Daron Iskenderian to move to 6-2-9 on the season. Monarchs have rebounded from a tough June schedule and are only six points out of the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Friday will mark the first of two regular season meetings between Monarchs and Rapids 2 this season.
Erik Bushey’s men remain top of the Western Conference despite falling behind Crown Legacy for the top spot in MLS NEXT Pro. A 4-3 shootout victory over Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday also extended Rapids 2’s unbeaten run to three matches in league play. Remi Cabral has found the back of the net in each of his last two appearances for Rapids 2.
Saturday - 7/15
Whitecaps FC 2 vs. Timbers2 (5 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
The third and final regular season meeting between Whitecaps FC 2 and Timbers2 comes from Swangard Stadium on Saturday.
Ricardo Clark’s men claimed one point in Sunday’s shootout loss to Rapids 2, which helped snap a three-match regulation losing streak in league play. Whitecaps FC 2 defeated Timbers2 on home soil back in March before falling at Providence Park in mid-May. Levonte Johnson continues to be a key player for Whitecaps FC 2, leading the team with seven goals.
Timbers2 snapped a three-match losing streak on Sunday after defeating Sporting KC II by a 3-1 scoreline. Josh Penn, Blake Pope, and Julian Bravo all found the back of the net as Shannon Murray’s squad jumped to 11th in the West standings. Penn has been a key two-way player for Timbers2 this season, scoring three goals and adding two assists so far in 2023.
Sunday - 7/16
FC Cincinnati 2 vs. Inter Miami II (6 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
Two Eastern Conference clubs desperately seeking three points will meet at Northern Kentucky University on Sunday.
FC Cincinnati 2 has only won one of its last six matches in regulation, most recently edging Chicago Fire II in a shootout 4-3 on Sunday. Tyrone Marshall’s squad registered their first clean sheet of the season in the process, which is a positive sign after conceding nine goals over their previous three matches prior. Bret Halsey has been one of FCC2’s best players in 2023, contributing one goal and four assists so far this season.
Inter Miami II have lost three-consecutive matches this summer, failing to score in recent defeats to Huntsville City FC, New York Red Bulls II, and New England Revolution II. Despite earning a 3-1 head-to-head win over FCC2 on June 8, Federico Higuain’s squad have struggled for consistency this season. Goals have continued to be an issue for Inter Miami II, who is still looking for someone to take the reins in the final third.
Philadelphia Union II vs. New York Red Bulls II (6 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
New York Red Bulls II will be fighting to rebound in league play with a Matchday 17 trip to Philadelphia Union.
New York Red Bulls II’s three-match unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday after suffering a 3-2 home loss to NYCFC II. Despite scoring two late goals at MSU Soccer Park, 10-men Red Bulls II couldn’t overcome a three-goal deficit on home soil. Ibrahim Kasule continues to impress as one of Red Bulls II’s top young performers in 2023, contributing seven goals to date.
Sunday will mark the second match in quick succession for Union II after a midweek trip to TFC II. Chris Donovan and Jeremy Rafanello have continued to be a strong 1-2 punch for Marlon LeBlanc’s attack.
Houston Dynamo 2 vs. North Texas SC (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Not much separates Houston Dynamo 2 and North Texas SC ahead of Sunday’s Texas Derby from SaberCats Stadium.
Both teams are deadlocked on 22 points apiece with Dynamo Dos sitting just in of NTX with one additional win to their name. However, four-straight losses for Kenny Bundy’s men is a worrying sign, especially after scoring just two goals total in their last 360 minutes of action. Dynamo Dos have been shutout in each of their last two matches, losses to both Tacoma Defiance and Austin FC II.
North Texas SC have also struggled for consistency, failing to win any of their last five matches in regulation. A 3-0 loss to Tacoma Defiance on Sunday continued a worrying run of form for NTX, which have only scored three goals in their last 450 minutes of play. The offensive talent remains with Hope Avayevu and Jose Mulato, but both players will need to step up immediately to help pick up three points on the road this weekend.
Huntsville City FC vs. TFC II (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Huntsville City FC steamrolled its way to three points on Matchday 16 and now turns their sights towards TFC II on Sunday.
Jack Collison’s men blitzed Orlando City B for six goals in a 6-2 home win as Isaiah Johnston stole the show with two goals. Johnston, Huntsville’s first signing last offseason, is starting to find his groove while Kemy Amiche continues to be a consistent threat in the final third. A victory over TFC II would give Huntsville City FC their fourth win in their past six matches.
TFC II comes into Sunday’s match off the back of Wednesday’s home clash with Philadelphia Union II.
NYCFC II vs. Chicago Fire II (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
Only two points separates NYCFC II and Chicago Fire II in the East table heading into Sunday’s Matchday 17 showdown.
NYCFC II outlasted rivals New York Red Bulls II by a 3-2 scoreline on Sunday, ending a four-match losing streak in the process. Matthew Myers and Jonathan Jimenez both found the back of the net for Matt Pilkington’s squad, continuing to be key offensive weapons for the club. NYCFC II won this fixture last season, using three second-half goals to earn a 3-0 victory on home soil.
Chicago Fire II fell 4-3 on Sunday in a shootout loss to FC Cincinnati 2 in what was Fire II’s first match failing to find the back of the net since May 28. However, Fire II have turned things around in recent weeks, losing just one of their last seven matches in regulation. Charlie Ostrem and Harold Osorio have been two key players in Ludovic Talliander’s squad, combining for seven goals and six assists to date.
Orlando City B vs. ATL UTD 2 (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
ATL UTD 2 has yet to lose against Orlando City B in 2023 and Steve Cooke’s squad will be hoping to extend that streak in Sunday’s regular season head-to-head finale.
ATL UTD 2 defeated OCB 3-1 back in mid-April before also claiming two points in a 5-4 shootout win back in mid-May. Nicolas Firmino has scored twice against OCB in 2023 and overall leads the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot race with 10 goals in total this season. Luke Brennan and Karim Tmimi have also celebrated goals against the Young Lions this season.
Orlando City B have lost three of their last four league matches, most recently suffering a disappointing 6-2 loss at the hands of Huntsville City FC. Jack Lynn has contributed three goals over that span, but overall OCB have been sloppy on the back end, conceding 13 goals in 360 minutes of play. Alex Freeman has been one of the key leaders on the OCB backline in 2023.
Sporting KC II vs. Earthquakes II (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
Fifth faces sixth in Western Conference play as Sporting KC II welcomes Earthquakes II to Rock Chalk Park on Sunday.
Benny Feilhaber’s squad suffered their first regulation loss on Sunday since May 26, falling 3-1 at Timbers 2. It was a step back for SKC II after they had just put seven goals past Whitecaps FC 2 the week prior. Pau Vidal and Ethan Bryant are two key scoring threats to watch for SKC after coming for 13 league goals so far in 2023.
Coincidentally, Earthquakes II also suffered their first regulation loss since May 28 after losing 2-1 at LAFC2. Daniel De Geer’s men fell down early against their Western Conference opponents and although they pulled one goal back before halftime, couldn’t avoid a disappointing loss. Quakes II have continued to provide one of the more stingier backlines in MLS NEXT Pro this season, conceding only 16 goals through 16 matches played (tied with Rapids 2 for the fewest goals allowed).
Keegan Tingey has been part of that success with 1,341 minutes played, 31 tackles completed, and 163 duels under his belt.
LA Galaxy II vs. Tacoma Defiance (8 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Tacoma Defiance have continued to move up the West standings this summer after registering their fourth-consecutive victory on Matchday 16.
Wade Webber’s squad blanked North Texas SC 3-0 on Sunday to not only extend their winning run, but also continue their current shutout streak defensively. The Defiance have not conceded a goal in their last 382 minutes of league play, dating back to a 5-4 shootout loss to Sporting KC II on June 15. Blake Bowen and Travian Sousa have been the leaders of the Defiance backline during that run.
LA Galaxy II have continued to move in the right direction in the West standings, but will now try and defeat one of the in-form clubs in MLS NEXT Pro.
MNUFC2 vs. LAFC2 (9 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Two Western Conference clubs coming off opposite Matchday 16 results will meet in Blaine to close out Sunday’s schedule.
MNUFC2 were shut out 2-0 by Real Monarchs on Sunday, conceding their first goals since June 11 in the process. The result also snapped MNUFC2’s three-match unbeaten run in league play, dropping them to seventh in the West standings. Cameron Knowles’ squad possesses plenty of offensive firepower, but defensively their 33 goals conceded are the third-most in the conference.
LAFC2 faces its second match in five days after traveling to LA Galaxy II on Wednesday.
