It’s the best time of the week at MLS NEXT Pro HQ: Matchweek honors! Matchweek 2 offered plenty to consider, but ultimately three clear winners deserving of this week's spotlight.
The Tacoma Defiance bent but didn’t break in their 3-1 win over The Town FC, and proved their grit on both sides of the field.
Real Monarchs also rattled off three goals in their season opener on Friday, and midfielder Aiden Hezarkhani played a part in each of them en route to being named Player of Matchweek 2.
And NYCFC II striker Seymour Reid earned the Rising Star honor with yet another goal contribution to the early campaign.
Read more about Matchday 2’s winners below.
MLS NEXT Pro Team of Matchweek 2: Tacoma Defiance
The Defiance bounced back from a Matchweek 1 defeat with a strong performance against The Town FC.
They put up three goals yet again, this time getting the better of a 3-1 scoreline, and rose above the pressure as they faced a whopping 23 shots (12 on goal), which were expertly handled by goalkeeper Lars Helleran and his 11 saves.
Osaze de Rosario, Yu Tsukanome, and Edson Carli got on the board despite the duress and made the scoreline look comfortable.
Hervé Diese’s side has five goals through two matches and roll into Thursday’s U.S. Open Cup match against Washington Athletic Club (10 PM ET | YouTube) with a full head of steam.
MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 2: Aiden Hezarkhani, Real Monarchs
Safe to say Real Monarchs couldn’t have lived without Hezarkhani in their season-opening 3-2 win over Timbers2 on Saturday night.
The 17-year-old midfielder got in on all three goals, scoring two and assisting one.
He leveled the match in the 32nd minute with a Goal of the Matchweek entry and was the engine in the Monarchs' runaway car, assisting Owen Anderson in the 35th minute for the go-ahead, and scoring again in the 78th to put the game out of reach.
Hezarkhani joined the Real Salt Lake Academy in September 2023, went pro with the Monarchs in July 2024, and RSL announced he was promoted to a first-team Homegrown contract in January.
He'll be heading to Spain to play with the U.S. men’s national team U-18 squad in after being named to Marlon LeBlanc’s roster earlier this week. The USMNT U-18s play Morrocco on March 22 and Norway on March 25.
MLS NEXT Pro Rising Star of Matchweek 2: Seymour Reid
Another week, another goal!
Reid has enjoyed a sensational start to the season with NYCFC II and continued that in Friday’s 2-0 win over Columbus Crew 2.
His strike in the 79th minute sealed the deal for NYCFC II's first win of the season, and follows him putting the team on his back in a two-goal comeback against Crown Legacy FC in Matchweek 1.
Reid represents Jamaica on the international scene and has made waves at the U-17 level in their recent camps.
