A thrilling Week 17 saw the seventh hat-trick of the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro campaign, a contest with 45 shots attempted between two sides, 36 total goals scored across nine matches and a six-goal-thriller in the Texas Derby.
Here’s your MLS NEXT Pro week 17 recap by the numbers.
In one of the most anticipated matches of the weekend, the #CopaTejas lived up to the hype.
It was all Dynamo Dos in the first half, with Kenny Bundy’s side scoring two of their three goals before the first 45 minutes were complete, with North Texas SC finding the board once before the break as well. Come the final 45, Pa-Modou Kah’s side scored their second goal in the 64th minute and then found a late equalizer in the 84th minute through attacker Jose Mulato.
At the end of the full 90, the two sides were stuck at a 3-3 stalemate, with an additional point to be won in kicks from the spot. Dynamo Dos earned that point, pulling the five-point double over North Texas SC this regular season.
Chicago Fire II forward Victor Bezerra scored a 14-minute hat trick on Saturday in a 4-3 loss to Orlando City B. Bezerra found the back of the net in the 35th, 45th and 49th minutes, moving his tally to seven goals this season.
Despite his goal-scoring heroics, Bezerra’s hat trick was not enough to secure all three points as OCB scored three unanswered over the final 20 minutes and stoppage time of the match to earn the comeback win.
Toronto FC II extended its unbeaten streak to six-straight matches at the conclusion of Week 17, knocking off Philadelphia Union II in MLS NEXT Pro’s second Game of the Week over the course of the weekend.
Julian Altobelli’s 89th minute dagger secured three points for the up-and-coming Eastern Conference side, who now sit 5th in the East – just three points out of a playoff spot.
Columbus Crew 2 went unbeaten in their sixth straight match in Week 17 too, topping FCC2 4-0 at Historic Crew Stadium in the “Hell is Real” Derby. Jacen Russell-Rowe appeared for Crew 2 in the match, scoring in his 10th consecutive appearance for the boys in yellow.
This seven-goal thriller between Chicago Fire II and Orlando City B certainly didn’t lack an attack, as the two sides combined for 45 shots – with 23 on target – resulting in (you guessed it) seven goals.
Fire II outshot OCB 24 to 21, including on target attempts (12-11) but fell short when all things were settled.
Orlando City B forward Jack Lynn scored his 12th goal of the campaign during Week 17, making it a dozen in 13 appearances. His opening goal for OCB was a rocket of a free kick.
Lynn is the only player in contention for the Golden Boot this season that has not scored a brace this season.
Crew 2 shutout its opposition for the third straight match, knocking off FC Cincinnati 2 4-0 on Saturday. Laurent Courtois’s side has only conceded one goal in its past five matches, and holds the top spot for the least amount of goals conceded this season with just 12.
Crew 2 boasts a goal-differential of +22 and climbed back to the top of the league, holding the No. 1 overall spot across the league standings at the conclusion of Week 17.
