MNUFC2 vs LA Galaxy II

National Sports Center | Blaine, MN

5.24.2023 |  MLS NEXT Pro Game No. 9

7:00 p.m. CT | Streaming on MLSNEXTPro.com

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The Twosies return home to Blaine after a hard-fought, high-scoring match against Tacoma, ending regulation in a 4-4 draw, but eventually falling to the Defiance following a shootout, 4-2. While the end result in the Tacoma match may have been less than desirable, MNUFC2 will be playing in their first return bout of the season, with LA Galaxy II making the trip from the left coast to see if they are able to avenge their early season 2-1 loss to the Twos on April 9th. Last time around, the two Western Conference sides showed out with a highly-intense match that saw MNUFC2 use a high press approach against the Galaxy II. The strategy proved effective in the early-goings of the match, with the Loons needing just three minutes to register their first goal of the game. 

While LA would storm back to make a game of it, that early goal proved itself crucial to that 2-1  result working out in the Twosies favor. Since that game, MNUFC2 has seen more development in the attacking third, with team scoring leader (and mustache-aficionado) Diogo Pacheco and his attacking counterpart midfielder Emmanuel Iwe settling nicely into their roles as scoring threats for the squad. With each getting a goal against Tacoma, hopefully the tandem continues to apply the same kind of pressure on LA’s defensive line and continue building upon the scoring momentum they have contributed to this season.

Defensively, the emergence of defender Britton Fischer was something that actually began to take shape in that last matchup with LA Galaxy II. After registering a team-leading seven clearances during the April 9th win, hopefully he can make his presence felt once again in helping to keep the box clean for Big Fred Emmings. Speaking of everybody’s favorite hometown goalkeeper, after giving up an uncharacteristic four goals in regulation against Tacoma, there’s no doubt the usually stout keeper will likely be looking forward to the LA matchup as a chance to bounce back —as will all the Twosies, as they take the National Sports Center Stadium pitch for the second time this year and, hopefully, give the home crowd a positive result to brighten every fan’s midweek mood.