Sunday evening MNUFC2 kicked off their last match of the regular season, facing LAFC II. The Decision Day contest was serious business for the Twoons, who needed a single point to make the MLS Next Pro Playoffs. MNUFC2 didn't just take one point on Sunday, they took all three with a regulation win over LAFC II.
“It was a good game. We knew it wasn't going to be easy. This is a very good team we played today, one of the most organized teams in terms of both defending and attacking," said MNUFC2 head coach Fanendo Adi.
The Twoons started in a 4-3-3 formation which LAFC II countered with their own 4-3-3 formation. LA started the game aggressively and found an early shot at goal in the 4th minute, one that was saved by the Minnesota goalkeeper Alexander Witte. Ultimately though, the LA scored the first goal of the match in the 15th minute, thanks to a strike by Ernesto Rodriguez.
But from there MNUFC2 kept possession for most of the half and began to control the match. It paid off with the Twoons striking home in 20th minute with a goal from Hector Cruz that was assisted by Darius Randell. Just under 20 minutes later the Twoons found the back of the net again. Jakob Friedman took a free kick from the left side of the box that LA blocked. But D.J. Taylor ran up to the loose ball and scored a screamer from 25 yards out.
In the second half of the match, LAFC2 attempted to revamp their team by substituting in four fresh players to start the second half of play. MNUFC2 brought on three fresh players in the 65th minute after 20 uneventful minutes of play time. With the match ticking down into the last 20 minutes LAFC II got a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty just past the 70th minute. DeCarlo Guerra stepped up to the shot and evened the match for the visitors.
But MNUFC2 wouldn't go down and four minutes later the Twoons then scored their 3rd and final goal of the evening. After an attempted clearance gone wrong for LAFC II, Hector Cruz got his foot on the ball and sent it across the pitch. Jordan Adebayo-Smith sprinted to hop on the ball and took it into the box, where he struck it and beat the keeper on his near side to put the Twosies up on what proved to be the match winner.
“Overall, it was really a blessing. Coming from the academy, coming to the second team, getting to score and assist not in just a small game, but a much-needed win to go to playoffs," said Hector Cruz. "It's the second year that they've [MNUFC2] gone to playoffs, so overall really good from the team, from the coaching staff and everything.”
MNUFC2's win in this match secured their place in the playoffs where the top three teams will choose their competitors in the Quarterfinals. Minnesota finished 5th in the Western Conference and will be on the receiving end of the first "Choose Your Opponent round."
"Now we prepare for the postseason and what is to come. But I'm looking forward to the game. We had chances that we should have buried the game a lot earlier, we should have scored more," said MNUFC2 coach Fanendo Adi. "But sometimes in the game you have open chances and you don't bury it, and the game gets a little bit stretched, which is what happened. And at the end of the day, you have to figure out a way to win the game, and today showed the character of the boys.”
Minnesota will face either Austin, Portland, Ventura County, or Houston on the road in the first round of the Next Pro Playoffs.
