After a busy two Matchday week of MLS NEXT Pro action, the latest league Power Rankings have arrived!
Crown Legacy FC remained top of the weekly honors, but Austin FC II leapfrogged Colorado Rapids 2 into the No. 2 spot. Rapids 2 remain top of the Western Conference after clinching their playoff berth on Sunday night.
New York Red Bulls II and Houston Dynamo 2 were among the big movers this week after positive results. Red Bulls II downed Columbus Crew 2 by a 5-0 scoreline away from home while Dynamo Dos earned five points out of six available.
Crew 2 and Orlando City B were among the teams who dropped after mixed results this past week.
Here is a closer look at MLS NEXT Pro's Top 10 Power Rankings:
Orlando City B remained in the MLS NEXT Pro Top 10 Power Rankings, but only barely due to a positive result on Matchday 22. A 5-4 home loss to New England Revolution II was followed up by a 4-3 road victory over NYCFC II on Sunday night. Shak Mohammed and Jack Lynn both registered braces at Belson Stadium, keeping OCB in the top-five of the East table. A bye week should help refuel and recharge Martin Perelman’s squad before their final five matches of the regular season.
Last Match: 5-4 loss vs. New England Revolution II, 4-3 win at NYCFC II
Next Match: Bye Week
Houston Dynamo 2 continued their quest for a playoff spot after earning five points out of a possible six this past week. Kenny Bundy’s squad downed West-leading Colorado Rapids 2 before edging Whitecaps FC 2 by a 3-2 shootout scoreline. Papa Ndoye and Diego Gonzalez have continued to be a deadly 1-2 threat for Dynamo Dos, who are up fifth place in the West.
Last Match: 3-1 win vs. Colorado Rapids 2, 0-0, SOW vs. Whitecaps FC 2
Next Match: at Earthquakes II on Saturday, August 19
Sporting KC’s busy week didn’t start off well, but it ended perfectly with a lopsided victory over Timbers2. 19-year-old Alenis Vargas registered his first-career hat trick in a 6-1 win, a result that helped Benny Feilhaber’s squad get back on track after a midweek loss. SKC II only has to face one team out of their final six matches that are ahead of them in the standings, providing a great opportunity to continue moving up the table.
Last Match: 3-1 loss at Houston Dynamo 2
Next Match: at Tacoma Defiance on Wednesday, August 9.
It was a week that Columbus Crew 2 will want to forget after earning just two points out of a possible six. Laurent Courtois’ squad edged Huntsville City FC 5-4 in a shootout midweek before suffering a 5-0 hammering at the hands of New York Red Bulls II. The defending MLS NEXT Pro Champions still have six matches left, which will be important in finetuning things before the playoffs begin. Noah Fuson and Marco Micaletto are key leaders in the current squad, who were part of that title-winning roster in 2022.
Last Match: 1-1, SOW at Huntsville City FC, 5-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls II
Next Match: vs. FC Cincinnati 2 on Saturday, August 19
It was also a mixed week for Tacoma Defiance, who remained in the Top 10 following up-and-down results. Wade Webber’s squad defeated Sporting KC II by a 3-1 scoreline before falling 3-1 at home to West-leading Colorado Rapids 2. The Defiance have six matches to go this season, with all six of them coming against teams lower than them in the standings. Braudilio Rodrigues has become the Defiance’s go-to attacker, but someone else will need to pair with him if the Defiance want to be a real threat come playoff time.
Last Match: 3-1 win vs. Sporting KC II, 3-1 loss vs. Colorado Rapids 2
Next Match: at North Texas SC on Saturday, August 19
New York Red Bulls II suffered a setback midweek against TFC II, but rebounded in a major way to close out Matchday 22’s action and move up to No. 5 in the Power Rankings. A 5-0 road win over defending league champions Columbus Crew 2 became Red Bulls II’s statement result of the campaign so far. Ibrahim Kasule and Wikelman Carmona both scored, continuing to show why they are promising prospects in the player pool. A pair of winnable home matches are next on Red Bulls II’s schedule.
Last Match: 2-1 loss vs. TFC II, 5-0 win at Columbus Crew 2
Next Match: vs. ATL UTD 2 on Monday, August 21
It was a perfect week for New England Revolution II, who captured six points out of six over a busy two-match schedule. A 5-4 road win over Orlando City B was followed up by a 5-1 home victory over ATL UTD 2. Jordan Adebayo-Smith has continued a strong season for Clint Peay’s men, bringing his goal tally up to 12 in league play so far. With 10 goals scored in their last 180 minutes of action, confidence is sky high for Revs II.
Last Match: 5-4 win at Orlando City B, 5-1 win vs. ATL UTD 2
Next Match: at TFC II on Friday, August 18
It was also an up-and-down week for Colorado Rapids 2, who ended a busy slate by clinching their playoff spot. Erik Bushey’s squad suffered a 3-1 loss vs. Houston Dynamo 2 before rebounding with a 3-1 road victory over Tacoma Defiance. Rapids 2 eclipsed the 50-point mark this season with Sunday’s result, sitting in good position to capture the No. 1 seed in the West. Remi Cabral joined Yosuke Hanya by becoming the second Rapids 2 player to register double-digit goals in 2023.
Last Match: 3-1 loss vs. Houston Dynamo 2, 3-1 win at Tacoma Defiance
Next Match: vs. LAFC II on Saturday, August 19
Austin FC extended its point streak to six matches on Saturday after blanking Earthquakes II 2-0. Brett Uttley’s men are still chasing Rapids 2 for the top spot in the West, but for now will also try and solidify their playoff spot over the next week or so. Sebastien Pineau registered a brace in Saturday’s victory and could be the new attacking leader over the final weeks of the regular season.
Last Match: 2-0 win at Earthquakes II
Next Match: at Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday, August 20
Crown Legacy FC also joined Colorado Rapids 2 as one of the two MLS NEXT Pro teams to clinch their playoff berth this past weekend. Despite falling midweek to ATL UTD 2, Jose Tavares’ men rebounded by defeating Huntsville City FC 1-0 on Sunday. Iuri Tavares’ late winner moved Crown Legacy FC to 50 points this season and four points clear at the top of the East table. The expansion side has yet to lose at home in regulation, earning 29 of 33 points available so far.
Last Match: 3-1 loss to ATL UTD 2, 1-0 win vs. Huntsville City FC
Next Match: at Inter Miami II on Saturday, August 19
