MLS NEXT Pro is back!
Matchweek 1 had no shortage of standout individual and team performances, and now it's time to crown the best of the best for 2025's first Matchweek award honors.
The team of the Matchweek goes to St Louis CITY2 for going down to Arlington to get one back against North Texas SC after running neck-and-neck all season long in 2024's Western Conference power struggle.
Austin FC II winger Jimmy Farkarlun earned Player of the Matchweek by helping his side score early and often in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season opener against Colorado Rapids 2.
And last but not least, the Rising Star honor goes to LA Galaxy Academy midfielder Dylan Vanney who posted a brace in Ventura County FC's opening day win over the Tacoma Defiance.
Read more about Matchweek 1's winners below.
MLS NEXT Pro Team of Matchweek 1: St Louis CITY2
Revenge tour, anyone?
An empathic 3-0 win with some recent history behind it.
CITY2 handed North Texas SC, the defending MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions, their first home loss since September 3, 2023, which is 731 days for those counting.
Naturally, there is a lot of turnover to account for on both sides from a year ago, but there's no denying this replay of last year's Western Conference Final was the headliner of Matchweek 1, and CITY2 stood tall against their chief rival from 2024.
MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 1: Jimmy Farkarlun, Austin FC II
Farkarlun sent MLS NEXT Pro Season 4 into go mode by scoring in the third minute of ATXFC II's 4-2 win over Colorado Rapids 2.
And didn't stop there.
The 23-year-old Liberian international added two assists to put the game out of reach before Rapids 2's late surge made things interesting.
In 2024, he contributed four goals and nine assists for a strong professional debut season. And if his Matchweek 1 performance is any indicator, it looks likely he can smash that clip in 2025 and help get the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup champs back in the playoff picture.
Farkarlun joined Austin FC via the 2024 MLS SuperDraft and was promoted to a first-team contract last June.
MLS NEXT Pro Rising Star of Matchweek 1: Dylan Vanney, Ventura County FC
Take a bow, mister Vanney!
The 17-year-old LA Galaxy Academy midfielder showed out in his season debut with a brace in Ventura County FC’s 3-2 win over Tacoma Defiance.
Vanney kickstarted the scoring in the 15th minute and sealed the win in the 71st en route to earning Man of the Match honors in his busy 89-minute shift.
And if his last name looks familiar, Dylan is indeed the son of LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney, who was in the stands at William Rolland Stadium cheering him on.
