A trio of matches takes center stage on Friday as Matchday 4 of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro continues with a pair of Eastern Conference showdowns.
Crown Legacy FC vs. Inter Miami II is one of two 7 p.m. ET kickoffs on Friday with both teams sitting on opposite ends of the Eastern Conference standings. Crown Legacy FC rolled past New York Red Bulls II on Matchday 3 by a 3-1 scoreline while Inter Miami II fell to in-state rivals Orlando City B 2-0.
Two of last season’s top-five finishers in the Eastern Conference will also square off on Friday with NYCFC II visiting TFC II. However, both TFC II and NYCFC II are sitting in the bottom-six of the Conference standings and will be hoping to spark an instant turnaround.
Friday’s late night match comes from Zions Bank Stadium as Real Monarchs host Sporting KC II. Only two points separate the two Western Conference clubs with SKC II knowing a victory would leapfrog them over Monarchs in the standings.
Sunday’s loaded slate kicks off with East leaders New England Revolution II taking a trip to face off against the defending MLS NEXT Pro champions Columbus Crew 2.
Here is a closer look at the Matchday 4 schedule:
Crown Legacy FC vs. Inter Miami II (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Crown Legacy FC has enjoyed a promising start to life in MLS NEXT Pro and Friday’s home showdown with Inter Miami II will be the next opportunity for Jose Tavares’ squad to impress.
Crown Legacy FC rebounded from an opening weekend shootout loss to Huntsville City FC by defeating FC Cincinnati 2 and New York Red Bulls II in back-to-back weeks. Brandon Cambridge leads the team with three goals while Iuri Tavares registered his first MLS NEXT Pro brace on Matchday 3.
Inter Miami II has alternated results through the opening three weeks of the MLS NEXT Pro season and will be hoping for three points on the road this Friday. Federico Higuain’s squad was blanked 2-0 against Orlando City B on Matchday 3 thanks to a Javier Otero penalty stop.
Dominican Republic international Edison Azcona is the attacker to watch for Inter Miami II with one goal this season.
TFC II vs. NYCFC II (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
TFC II have recorded the fewest number of shots on target so far this season (4) and that will need to change if Gianni Cimini’s squad wants to move up the table.
Back-to-back road defeats to FC Cincinnati 2 and Chicago Fire II have TFC II with zero points earned and some early unwanted pressure on the Canadian club. Reshaun Walkes will try and lead the offensive opportunities for TFC II this weekend.
NYCFC II blanked ATL UTD 2 by a 2-0 scoreline on Matchday 3 to claim their first victory of the season. John Denis, Justin Haak, and Andres Jasson all have one goal apiece through their first two games this season and will be hoping for similar success against a struggling TFC II backline.
Real Monarchs vs. Sporting KC II (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Real Monarchs are seeking their first home win of 2023 while Sporting KC II is seeking its first road win of the season. Something’s gotta give on Friday with the two Western Conference clubs squaring off at Zions Bank Stadium.
Monarchs defender Nicholas Nobles was MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchday 3 after helping Jamison Olave’s squad shutout Earthquakes II by a 1-0 scoreline last week. Nobles, 15, is a promising prospect in the Monarchs backline and will be hoping to retain his starting place against SKC II.
SKC II are unbeaten in their last two league matches, edging Austin FC II in a shootout before defeating LAFC2 on Matchday 3. Benny Feilhaber’s squad have been led by Pau Vidal’s two goals scored, in addition to Ozzie Cisneros and Nassim Mekideche’s contributions in front of goal as well.
Columbus Crew 2 vs. New England Revolution II (1 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
New England Revolution II have come out strong in 2023 and the defending MLS NEXT Pro champions will need to be wary of them in Sunday’s head-to-head clash at Historic Crew Stadium.
Clint Peay’s Revs II squad are a perfect 3-0-0 so far, most recently rolling past Philadelphia Union II 5-1 on Monday. Revs II’s 10 goals scored through 270 minutes this season are the most so far in MLS NEXT Pro, and their +6 goal differential is tied with MNUFC2 for highest in the league.
Jordan Adebayo-Smith and Esmir Bajraktarevic have two goals apiece in 2023 for Revs II.
Crew 2 sit fifth in the Eastern Conference and could move closer to Revs II with three points at home on Sunday. Gibran Rayo’s first goal for the club propelled Crew 2 past Chicago Fire II on Matchday 3 and he will be among the standout talents to watch this weekend.
Former SKC II attacker Matteo Bunbury’s arrival in Columbus also adds a new weapon for Laurent Courtois to call on.
Austin FC II vs. St. Louis CITY2 (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
It will be a quick turnaround for Austin FC II after shutting out North Texas SC 3-0 just four days prior.
Valentin Noel continues to be one of the top dual-threat attackers in MLS NEXT Pro following his brace midweek. Noel is tied with FC Cincinnati 2 forward Arquimides Ordonez atop the league’s Golden Boot race with four goals to his name.
St. Louis CITY2 have failed to win so far in 2023, but a result over West-leading Austin FC II could be a major spark to a surge up the conference standings. Bobby Murphy’s squad will be seeking more offensive opportunities this weekend after being held to only three goals scored through 270 minutes of action.
Aziel Jackson and Wan Kuzain are possible candidates to find the back of the net on Sunday.
Chicago Fire II vs. Philadelphia Union II (7 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
Only one night after their respective first teams clash in Chicago, Philadelphia Union II will visit Chicago Fire II on Sunday night.
Ludovic Talliander’s squad went toe-to-toe with Columbus Crew 2 on Matchday 3 before falling just short in a 1-0 defeat. Fire II have been strong though through three weeks, scoring five goals and only conceding two. Their 52 total interceptions is the highest by any MLS NEXT Pro side coming into Matchday 4.
It’s been a rough start for Union II this season, with Marlon LeBlanc’s squad still seeking their first victory. Union II haven’t had trouble creating shooting opportunities through three weeks, but are struggling to test the opposing goalkeeper (31.3% shots on target, fifth-lowest in MLS NEXT Pro).
Nelson Pierre (one goal, one assist) and Stefan Stojanovic (one goal) will be working to change that trend on Sunday.
New York Red Bulls II vs. Huntsville City FC (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Only one point separates Huntsville City FC and New York Red Bulls II in the Eastern Conference table heading into Sunday’s head-to-head showdown.
Huntsville City FC is still seeking its first win after earning two shootout results against Crown Legacy FC and FC Cincinnati 2 respectively. Azaad Liadi has two goals so far in 2023 while Ollie Wright earned Goal of Matchday 3 honors.
New York Red Bulls II have received all three of their goals from Wikelman Carmona but the club will help from others to move up the table. Carmona leads the team in several categories including shots (10), shots on goal (5), and key passes (6).
Oladayo Thomas and Amos Shapiro-Thompson (five combined shots on goal) are the likely candidates to contribute alongside Carmona on Sunday.
ATL UTD 2 vs. Orlando City B (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Two Eastern Conference clubs on opposite ends of the table meet from Georgia this Sunday.
ATL UTD 2 sits 11th in the Eastern Conference with only one point earned and three goals scored to their name. Steve Cooke’s squad have struggled to string together offensive chances, with their 26 shots and 10 shots on target ranking in the bottom five of MLS NEXT Pro.
Erik Lopez and Nick Firmino each have one goal apiece in 2023.
Orlando City B are flying high with three wins earned out of three to start the season. Goalkeeper Javier Otero has conceded only two goals through 270 minutes and remains one of the best at his position in 2023.
Favian Loyola was the MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchday 3 and will be hoping to earn that honor once again on Matchday 4.
Houston Dynamo 2 vs. LAFC2 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Houston Dynamo 2 will be seeking their second win of the season when LAFC2 comes to town on Sunday night.
Kenny Bundy’s squad used a 3-1 comeback victory over St. Louis CITY2 on Matchday 3 to claim their first win of 2023. Papa Ndoye leads Dynamo Dos with two goals and one assist while Talen Maples remains a key defender at the back for the club.
Xavier Valdez has made nine saves through his first three starts.
LAFC2 has only two goals in its first three MLS NEXT Pro matches, something that Enrique Duran hopes changes quickly. Christopher Jaime is a talented attacking player for LAFC2 and will be looking to link up with Erik Duenas and Ladji Malle in the final third at SaberCats Stadium.
Earthquakes II vs. Colorado Rapids 2 (8 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
It’s a battle of third vs. fifth in Western Conference action as Colorado Rapids 2 visits Earthquakes 2 on Sunday night.
Colorado Rapids 2 are one of the four undefeated teams remaining in MLS NEXT Pro and have delivered three victories in a variety of ways. After consecutive comeback victories, Rapids 2 rolled past Timbers2 4-2 on Matchday 3. Yosuke Hanya is having a stellar start with three goals scored while Calvin Harris registered a brace last week.
Earthquakes II were left frustrated after falling 1-0 to Real Monarchs on Matchday 3 and a huge test awaits Daniel De Geer’s squad on Matchday 4. Quakes II have conceded just one goal through three matches, sitting tied with Columbus Crew 2 as the only other MLS NEXT Pro side to do so.
Eric De La Cerda’s two clean sheets rank him first among MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers while his 11 saves are the fourth-most so far in 2023.
Whitecaps FC 2 vs. LA Galaxy II (8 p.m. ET, MLSNEXTPro.com)
LA Galaxy II’s quest to claim their first MLS NEXT Pro victory continues Sunday against Whitecaps FC 2.
Galaxy II have lacked the clinical edge in front of goal, registering a 26.1% shot on target percentage, which is the second-lowest in MLS NEXT Pro. Still, there remains plenty of young talent in the squad including Aaron Bibout, Adam Saldana, and Adrian Gonzalez.
Whitecaps FC 2 sit fifth in the West with eight points earned through three matches following a 4-1 romp over North Texas SC. Ricardo Clark’s squad are riding a good run of form with seven goals scored to only three goals conceded.
Six players have recorded at least one goal for Whitecaps FC 2 this spring, with Kamron Habibullah leading the way with two tallies of his own.
North Texas SC vs. MNUFC2 (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV)
Sunday’s final match features a top-six Western Conference clash with MNUFC2 visiting North Texas SC.
NTX is coming off a 3-0 shutout loss to Austin FC II on Wednesday, which was their second defeat out of four matches played. North Texas SC’s seven goals conceded through 360 minutes played are tied for the third-most in the West and will need to change if they want to silence a deadly MNUFC2 attacking front.
MNUFC2 is cruising along with eight goals scored, only two goals conceded, and nine points earned through three matches. The depth in Cameron Knowles’ squad is continuing to show through the early stages of the 2023 campaign with six players contributing goals so far.
Diogo Pacheco leads the way with three goals while Loic Mesanvi’s two assists also lead the team in that category. Mesanvi also received some positive news off the field this week after becoming a United States citizen.
