Inter Miami II and TFC II extended their respective unbeaten streaks on Sunday, headlining Week 20 of MLS NEXT Pro action. Tommy Williamson and Shanyder Boreglin became the eighth and ninth players this season to record a hat trick after both excelled for MNUFC2 and Inter Miami II respectively. Philadelphia Union II extended its winning run to three matches after downing FC Cincinnati 2 while Houston Dynamo 2 made it four straight victories at home.
Here’s your MLS NEXT Pro week 20 recap by the numbers.
Shanyder Borgelin, Tommy Williamson star with first MLS NEXT Pro hat tricks
A pair of MLS NEXT Pro attackers added their name to the growing list of players to record a hat trick this season. Inter Miami II’s Shanyder Borgelin and MNUFC2’s Tommy Williamson both scored three goals apiece, staying alive in the Golden Boot race.
Williamson became the first MNUFC2 player to register a hat trick this season, scoring three goals in a 46-minute span at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The 23-year-old came into Saturday’s match with six goals this season for Cam Knowles’ squad and put himself into the top ten with Saturday’s performance.
Borgelin scored twice in a busy first half for Inter Miami II before capping his hat trick in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot. The 20-year-old is tied for fifth in the league with 11 goals this season, with seven of those coming thanks to Romeo Beckham’s playmaking abilities.
Union II register second multi-game winning streak of season
Philadelphia Union II earned its second three-match winning streak of 2022, downing FC Cincinnati 2 by a 3-2 scoreline on Sunday night.
Jesus Bueno registered his first MLS NEXT Pro brace, while Chris Donovan continued his impressive season for Marlon LeBlanc’s attack. Union II posted their first three-match winning streak from April 30-May 16 and after going seven matches without a victory this summer, looks to have turned the tide with seven matches remaining on their schedule.
Union II sit in fifth place in the East following Sunday’s road victory, slightly behind TFC II.
TFC II’s Gavran earns fifth clean sheet during club’s eight-match unbeaten run
Luka Gavran’s stellar run in between the posts continued for TFC II on Sunday as the 22-year-old posted six saves in a 3-0 win over Orlando City B.
Gavran has been key during TFC II’s eight-match unbeaten run, totaling five clean sheets and only conceding three goals in his last 720 minutes of action. TFC II’s impressive unbeaten streak has kept the Canadian club in the top four of the Eastern Conference and is now putting pressure on RNY FC for third place.
Gavran’s six clean sheets in total this season has him tied with RNY FC’s Caique and Crew 2’s Patrick Schulte for the league-lead.
Jacen Russell-Rowe continues Golden Boot chase with fourth multi-goal game
Columbus Crew 2 continues to cruise at the top of the Eastern Conference with leading scorer Jacen Russell-Rowe flying high not only for the club but also in the entire league.
Russell-Rowe scored twice in Sunday’s 3-0 home win over NYCFC II, registering his fourth multi-goal performance of the 2022 season. The Canadian native now has 15 goals in 14 appearances for Laurent Courtois’ squad, and remains on pace to eclipse the 20-goal mark later this summer.
If any club wants to give Crew 2 a run for the league title, they will have to try and stop the in-form JRR.
Terron Williams’ first brace helps Real Monarchs continue second-half surge
Terron Williams became the latest MLS NEXT Pro player to register a multi-goal performance this weekend, scoring twice for the in-form Real Monarchs.
Williams netted two goals in a 17-minute span to help open and close a 3-1 home victory over Whitecaps FC 2 on Friday. The 17-year-old is one of several young talents in Jamison Olave’s squad this season and Friday was his night to play the hero for the Western Conference club.
Real Monarchs have won three of its last five league matches, along with a strong showing in the MLS NEXT Pro Invitational against Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Williams will be pushing for more goals and more wins as the final stretch of the league season approaches.
Tacoma Defiance extends winning run to five with victory over Quakes II
Tacoma Defiance scored early and late in Friday’s trip to Quakes II, using goals in each half to claim a 2-0 victory.
Wade Webber’s squad made it five-consecutive wins with the result, remaining four points clear of St Louis CITY2 for the top spot in the Western Conference. Travian Sousa and Juan Alvarez each scored for the visitors at PayPal Park, giving the Defiance their 18th point away from home this season, the most in MLS NEXT Pro so far.
The Defiance have five matches left starting with an August 15 trip to MNUFC2.
Dantouma Toure continues hot goalscoring run with fifth goal in last three apps
Colorado Rapids 2 edged MNUFC2 in a shootout on Saturday night with Dantouma Toure continuing his hot run of form in front of goal.
Toure scored in the 26th minute of the eventual 3-3 draw through 90 minutes. The 17-year-old now has five goals in his last three MLS NEXT Pro appearances, to go along with one goal against Wolves in the MLS NP Invitational in late July.
Toure also scored the winner last week for the Rapids’ first team in a thrilling 5-4 comeback win over the New York Red Bulls.
In total, Toure has eight goals and two assists for Rapids 2 this season, keeping the Western Conference club alive for a playoff spot.
Dynamo Dos makes it four consecutive home victories
Houston Dynamo 2 extended its unbeaten run on Sunday night, scoring three goals in a 3-0 home triumph over Sporting KC II.
Marcelo Palomino, Brooklyn Raines, and Kyle Edwards all celebrated goals as Dynamo Dos moved to 4-0 in its last four home matches. During their seven-match unbeaten run overall, Dynamo Dos have outscored their opponents 15-7, posting three clean sheets.
Dynamo Dos sit in third place in the Western Conference, four points out of first place Tacoma Defiance.
