17-year-old Columbus Crew II forward Brent Adu-Gyamfi has been honored with the MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchday 13 award for his goal scoring contribution in Crew 2's thrilling shootout victory against Atlanta United 2 on Thursday, June 15.
Adu-Gyamfi also excelled in the MLS NEXT Cup this past Sunday, June 18 scoring for his U-17 side in their Round of 32 match against Chicago Fire.
Coming off the bench as a substitute, the Columbus Crew II forward wasted no time in leaving his mark on the game. Within 25 minutes, he notched his first-ever professional goal, equalizing the match in the process and providing a crucial boost to his team.
A well-executed pass from Noah Fuson found Adu-Gyamfi in the center of the box, who seized the opportunity and struck the ball into the back of the net. This crucial stoppage-time goal tied the game at 2-2, paving the way for a shootout. In the end, Crew 2 emerged victorious with a 6-5 shootout win, securing the extra point.
Thursday's match marked Adu-Gyamfi's seventh appearance for Crew 2, having been part of the starting lineup twice.
The young forward's performance on Thursday night's game proved to be instrumental as Columbus Crew II as they maintained the second spot in the Eastern Conference with a total of 28 points.
Adu-Gyamfi was not only a crucial piece for his side's MLS NEXT Pro game during the week but he also contributed a goal in the Columbus Crew U-17 squad's 4-2 win against Chicago Fire FC's U-17 team in the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup.
After earning a win in the Round of 32, Adu-Gyamfi's U-17 squad will face off against Total Futbol Academy in the Toyota Soccer Center in the next round.
On the MLS NEXT Pro side of things, Columbus Crew 2 will host Huntsville City FC on Sunday, June 25 in Matchday 14, at the Historic Crew Stadium. You can catch all the MLS NEXT Pro action on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
