Matchday 18 raged on with seven outstanding Sunday matches, headlined by a top Western Conference clash between Colorado Rapids 2 and Austin FC II. Battles for position throughout the table continue to shape up with another exciting bunch of matches.
Here are the results from Sunday in Matchday 18.
Crown Legacy FC (4) - NYCFC II (3)
Two goals and an assist from Patrick Agyemang allowed Crown Legacy FC to withstand a lengthy weather delay and pick up three points at Matthews SportsPlex.
Agyemang's two goals continues an impressive tear, in which the Ghanaian striker has scored two goals in each of the past three games and raised his 2023 goal total to nine.
Piero Elias scored twice for NYCFC II. A 78th-minute goal from Ronald Arevalo put late pressure on Crown Legacy.
Crown Legacy continues to lead the Eastern Conference, and got back on track after the previous loss at Revs II. NYCFC II's struggles reappear as a two-game unbeaten stretch ends.
Colorado Rapids 2 (3) - Austin FC II (3) (Rapids 2 win shootout 6-5)
A clash between the top two teams in the Western Conference did not disappoint. Rapids 2 goalkeeper Adam Beaudry made a shootout save to win the shootout and lock up two points for his side.
Austin FC II established a commanding lead, with three goals in the first half. CJ Fodrey opened scoring, while Sebastien Pineau and Salvatore Mazzaferro scored to make it 3-0. Rapids 2 mounted a comeback, starting with a converted penalty kick from Marlon Vargas. Oliver Larraz scored to apply more pressure, and an own goal tied things at 3-3.
Austin FC II's outstanding back line gave up three goals for the first time this season, falling to a loss for the first time since June 25. Rapids 2 continues on a five-game unbeaten streak.
Houston Dynamo 2 (1) - MNUFC2 (1) (Dynamo Dos wins shootout 5-4)
Houston Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez came up big in the shootout, saving a shot in the last round to hand Dynamo Dos the extra point in this hard-fought Western Conference matchup.
Kameron Lacey opened scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute. Papa Ndoye equalized for Dynamo Dos in the 54th minute, scoring from a tight angle on the right side of the goal.
Both sides are on two-game unbeaten runs with the result. MNUFC2 maintains an advantage, two points ahead of Dynamo Dos at fifth in the Western Conference table.
Orlando City B (3) - Chicago Fire FC II (2)
Jack Lynn continues to power Orlando City B, scoring two goals, including the winner, in a 3-2 win over Chicago Fire FC II. OCB made it three wins in the previous four matches. Lynn took the MLS NEXT Pro top scorer position with 12 goals on the season.
Lynn opened scoring with a back-post header to finish off a well-placed cross by Jorge Almaguer. Fire II took the lead with goals from Billy Hency and Luka Prpa, but OCB's Juninho equalized. Lynn scored on the end of a low driven cross from Moises Tablante.
Atlanta United 2 (2) - Huntsville City FC (4)
Huntsville City FC overcame a halftime deficit to claim a road victory over Atlanta United 2 Sunday night. Kemy Amiche, Jonathan Bolanos, Nebiyou Perry, and Azaad Liadi scored as HCFC picked up three points.
ATL UTD 2 claimed the first-half advantage with goals from Luke Brennan and Nick Firmino.
HCFC continues to fight for a playoff spot, improving to eighth place in the Eastern Conference with Sunday's result. ATL UTD 2 fell to a third straight loss.
Earthquakes II (1) - St Louis CITY2 (1) (Quakes II wins shootout 4-2)
Earthquakes II picked up the extra point in a hard-fought Western Conference battle with St Louis CITY2.
Ousseni Bouda scored to put Quakes II in front in the 22nd minute, finishing off a long ball forward from Oscar Verhoeven for the assist. CITY2 equalized in the 64th minute, with Wan Kuzain finished from a tight angle at the near post.
Quakes II got back on track after two losses by picking up two points. CITY2 also got over a two-match skid, but continues to search for its first win in over a month.
Los Angeles Football Club 2 (2) - Tacoma Defiance (1)
Los Angeles Football Club 2 picked up three eyebrow-raising points, with the Western Conference's 14th-place club defeating the third-place club.
Matheus Maia opened scoring in the 11th minute, making LAFC2's pressure count by scoring on a rebound after a save. Defiance's Christopher Aquino equalized in the 27th minute from close range. LAFC2's Tamir Ratoviz found the decisive goal in the 57th minute.
LAFC2 picked up its first win in two weeks, while Defiance fell to a loss that will prevent the club from gaining momentum in the Western Conference. Defiance saw its five-match unbeaten streak halted.
