The final weekend of July is upon us, putting ample pressure on many MLS NEXT Pro clubs to get three points by Matchday 19’s end.
Friday’s schedule gets underway with a bang as ATL UTD 2 hosts Columbus Crew 2 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Houston Dynamo 2 also visits Real Monarchs in Western Conference play.
Saturday’s four-match slate is headlined by Crown Legacy FC’s trip to FC Cincinnati 2 in Eastern Conference play. Colorado Rapids 2 will face a tough test against in-form Sporting KC II on Sunday.
New England Revolution II will also continue their No. 1 seed chase with a trip to Chicago Fire II. Matchday 19’s schedule concludes on Monday with New York Red Bulls II facing off with Orlando City B.
Here is a closer look at the Matchday 19 schedule:
Friday - 7/28
ATL UTD 2 vs. Columbus Crew 2 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Two Eastern Conference clubs coming off Matchday 18 losses will be seeking an immediate bounce-back this weekend.
ATL UTD 2 suffered their third-straight defeat on Sunday and will desperately be seeking to end that streak on Friday. Despite leading 2-1 for the majority of the second half, Steve Cooke’s squad conceded three goals in the final 18 minutes of the match, falling behind closed doors after inclement weather. Nicolas Firmino bagged his 12th goal of the season in the result and remains one of the more dangerous offensive threats in MLS NEXT Pro.
Columbus Crew 2 suffered a 6-2 hammering at home against Philadelphia Union II, which were the most goals that they have conceded in a match since May 2022. Laurent Courtois’ squad were reduced to 10 men in the opening 10 minutes, and although got to halftime tied at 2-2, conceded four second-half goals. Noah Fuson will be aiming to carry the load against ATL UTD 2 after scoring a brace in Monday’s home defeat.
Real Monarchs vs. Houston Dynamo 2 (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Real Monarchs return to league action after their involvement in the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational.
Jamison Olave’s squad defeated Crystal Palace’s U-21 side by a 2-1 scoreline before facing Hoffenheim on Monday. Monarchs have won two of their last four league matches this summer, defeating Timbers2 and MNUFC2 in recent weeks. A victory over Houston Dynamo 2 would give Monarchs their first head-to-head victory against the Texas-based club after three previous defeats.
Houston Dynamo 2 claimed one point in their 5-4 shootout loss to MNUFC2 on Sunday, despite fighting back in the second half. Papa Ndoye scored his fifth goal of 2023 in the match, remaining one of the top threats for Kenny Bundy’s attack. Dynamo Dos have defeated Real Monarchs in their three previous meetings, which included a 3-0 triumph back in May.
Saturday - 7/29
FC Cincinnati 2 vs. Crown Legacy FC (6 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Crown Legacy FC rebounded from their third league defeat of 2023 and will next travel to FC Cincinnati 2 on Saturday.
Patrick Agyemang continued his strong run of form, scoring a brace in a 4-3 triumph over NYCFC II on Sunday. Agyemang netted twice in the home triumph while Nick Scardina and Brandon Cambridge also found the back of the net. The expansion side defeated FCC2 by a 2-1 scoreline in their first matchup back in March and will be looking for a season sweep with three points on the road.
FC Cincinnati 2 suffered a 2-0 home loss to New York Red Bulls II on Sunday, which was their third defeat out of their past five matches. Tyrone Marshall’s squad have been up-and-down in recent weeks, but will be looking for a statement win on home soil. Ryder Mills has been a positive performer for FCC2, scoring four goals so far in 2023.
MNUFC2 vs. Earthquakes II (8 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
MNUFC2 have claimed five points in their last two league matches and next hosts Earthquakes II on Saturday.
Cameron Knowles’ men defeated Houston Dynamo 2 by a 5-4 shootout scoreline after the sides played out a 1-1 scoreline through 90 minutes. Kameron Lacey continued his impressive summer by scoring his seventh goal of the season, joining Diogo Pacheco as one of the top scoring weapons for the club. MNUFC2 has yet to defeat Quakes II after falling twice in their two regular-season meetings of 2022.
Earthquakes II picked up two points on Sunday after defeating St. Louis CITY2 by a 4-2 shootout scoreline at PayPal Park. Ousseni Bouda scored the lone goal for Daniel De Geer’s squad before Cruz Medina delivered the decisive shot in the shootout. Rudi Castro and Eduardo Blancas both scored against MNUFC2 last season and will be hoping for similar success in their first head-to-head meeting of 2023.
St. Louis CITY2 vs. LAFC2 (8 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
St. Louis CITY2 have failed to win in regulation in any of their last four matches, something that will need to change with LAFC2 coming to town on Saturday.
Bobby Murphy’s squad fell 4-2 in a shootout against Quakes II on Sunday, despite Wan Kuzain tying the match in the second half. CITY2 have struggled to find the back of the net consistently in July, totaling just one goal in the last 360 minutes of action. Kuzain, Akil Watts, and John Klein have 12 goals between them this season and are all capable of finding the back of the net on Matchday 19.
LAFC2 will be brimming with confidence after earning a 2-1 Matchday 18 victory over Tacoma Defiance on Sunday. Matheus Maia and Tamir Ratoviz both found the back of the net in the win, helping the Western Conference club snap its two-match losing streak. LAFC2 earned one point in their first meetings with CITY2 in 2023, but after earning their most impressive result to date, should have more than enough in the tank to get the job done this weekend.
North Texas SC vs. Timbers2 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
North Texas SC’s regulation winless streak continued on Saturday with a 2-1 loss at home and a showdown with Timbers2 won’t be easier either. Jose Mulato ended his goalless drought in the match, but overall the last two months have been frustrating for NTX in league play. NTX was blanked by Timbers2 by a 2-0 scoreline at Providence Park in June and will be hoping to exact revenge against their fellow Western Conference competitors.
Timbers2 enjoyed a bye week for Matchday 18, but now gets back to action against a struggling North Texas SC squad on Saturday. Back-to-back victories over Sporting KC II and Whitecaps FC 2 will be fresh on the minds of the Timbers2 players, especially with another winnable match on the schedule. Josh Penn and Blake Pope are among the recent goalscorers for Timbers2 during their recent turnaround.
Sunday - 7/30
Tacoma Defiance vs. Whitecaps FC 2 (3 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
Whitecaps FC 2 will hope their involvement in the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational can help turn things around in league play this weekend.
Ricardo Clark’s squad have failed to win any of their last five matches, earning just one point out of a possible 15 over that span. Goals have dried up for Whitecaps FC 2 as well with the Canadian club scoring just three times in the last 450 minutes of action.
Tacoma Defiance’s seven-match unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday following a 2-1 road loss at LAFC2. Wade Webber’s squad tied things up 1-1 in the first half, but conceded an eventual deciding goal early in the second half. The Defiance have played well at Starfire Sports Complex this season, winning five of their eight matches so far, and Webber will hope that trend continues with a bounce-back win over Whitecaps FC 2.
Chicago Fire II vs. New England Revolution II (6 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
New England Revolution II should be fresh and ready to go after having a bye week on Matchday 18.
Clint Peay’s squad are continuing to chase Crown Legacy FC for top spot in the East and will travel to Chicago Fire II on Sunday. Revs II are unbeaten in four-straight matches, defeating Inter Miami II and Crown Legacy FC in regulation over the past three weeks. Jordan Adebayo-Smith leads Revs II with eight goals while Marcos Dias has six tallies of his own.
Chicago Fire II will try to end a three-match regulation winless streak at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday night. Fire II suffered a 3-2 road loss at Orlando City B on Sunday, which dropped them to eighth place in the East standings. Luka Prpa and Billy Hency both scored goals and will be among the leading options to find the back of the net again this weekend.
NYCFC II vs. Huntsville City FC (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Pressure will be on NYCFC II on Matchday 19 after suffering a latest defeat this past weekend.
NYCFC II fell 4-3 against Crown Legacy FC, which was the fifth loss out of the past seven results for the Eastern Conference club. Matt Pilkington’s squad desperately needs to tighten it up defensively after conceding 19 goals over the past seven matches. Luckily for NYCFC II though, they have already defeated Huntsville City FC once this season and should pose problems in the final third against the expansion side. Piero Elias scored twice against Crown Legacy FC, giving NYCFC II another talented goalscorer to call on.
Huntsville City FC used a three-goal first half to claim a 4-2 road victory over ATL UTD 2 on Sunday. Azaad Liadi, Kemy Amiche, and Nebiyou Perry all celebrated goals of their own as Jack Collison’s squad rebounded from a Matchday 17 defeat. With 11 goals scored in their last three matches, Huntsville City FC are starting to find their groove in the attacking third.
Sporting KC II vs. Colorado Rapids 2 (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Colorado Rapids 2 continued to show why they are the comeback kids in MLS NEXT Pro during Matchday 18’s schedule.
Rapids 2 overcame a 3-0 halftime deficit in Sunday’s showdown with Austin FC II, scoring three second-half goals before claiming a 6-5 shootout result. Oliver Larraz and Marlon Vargas both found the back of the net, continuing positive league campaigns in 2023. A victory over Sporting KC II would give Erik Bushey’s squad a regular season sweep of their Sunday opponents.
SKC II made it back-to-back wins on Matchday 18, defeating North Texas SC by a 2-1 scoreline. Sebastian Cruz scored for the second-consecutive match while Jack Coan also found the back of the net for the third time this season. Benny Feilhaber’s squad are sitting in fourth place after a good string of results and could move up again with three points against the West leaders.
Austin FC II vs. LA Galaxy II (9 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
Austin FC II failed to capture three points against Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday and will now hope to rebound at home against LA Galaxy II on Matchday 19.
Brett Uttley’s squad took a 3-0 lead into halftime at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, but West-leading Rapids 2 fought back to defeat ATX II 6-5 in a shootout. CJ Fodrey, Sebastien Pineau, and Salvatore Mazzaferro all celebrated goals of their own in the top-two showdown. Fodrey now has four goals in 2023, which is tied for the second-most goals in the squad this season.
LA Galaxy II were off this past weekend after hosting English fourth-tier side Wrexham AFC in a friendly match. Galaxy II suffered a 4-0 home loss to the recently promoted squad, but overall will take plenty of positives from the match into a Matchday 19 trip to Texas. Galaxy II have earned points in each of their last four league matches, with Aaron Bibout contributing two goals over that run. Bibout has 10 goals in total this league campaign.
Monday - 7/31
New York Red Bulls II vs. Orlando City B (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
New York Red Bulls II rebounded from back-to-back defeats and will now seek two-consecutive victories in league play.
Red Bulls II blanked FC Cincinnati 2 on Saturday by a 2-0 scoreline, using goals from Ibrahim Kasule and Frank Ssebufu to claim the result. Despite playing with 10-men for 70+ minutes, Red Bulls II picked up an important three points in their quest for a playoff spot later this season. Kasule has been one of the rising talents in MLS NEXT Pro, contributing nine goals and four assists in 17 appearances.
Orlando City B made it back-to-back victories on Sunday after defeating Chicago Fire II by a 3-2 scoreline. Jack Lynn scored twice for OCB while Juninho also found the back of the net in the home triumph. Martin Perelman will be pleased with his squad’s ability to score goals over recent weeks, as OCB has totaled 11 goals in their last four matches. Lynn continues to lead the way with 12 tallies of his own, which now has him in the lead for the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot.
