MNUFC2 v Timbers2

National Sports Center Stadium | Blaine, Minnesota

7.2.2023 | MLS NEXT Pro Game No. 15

6:00 p.m. CT | Streaming on AppleTV’s MLS Season Pass

Another Sunday, another MNUFC2 match. This week, the Twos will be taking on Timbers2 for the second time this season. Both squads are currently sitting outside of the playoff spots, but with half a season left to play, they’ll be hoping that a win this weekend could be exactly what they need to jumpstart a midseason resurgence.

For the Loons, Sunday’s matchup offers a chance to fix the errors made in their away match at Providence Park. The 2-4 final scoreline exposed a few weaknesses in the Twos’ defense; however, they’ve managed to keep two consecutive clean sheets in their last two games, an encouraging stat that the backline will be eager to continue.

According to Head Coach Cameron Knowles, the secret to the squad’s recent defensive solidity has been primarily mental. 

“We’ve had a really good mentality around defending as a team and everyone getting back helping each other,” he said. “When you concede goals this often through a string of mistakes, you need someone to help you out when you make one. We’ve had guys where maybe they get beat somewhere and the next guy comes and makes a tackle. If a guy misses a tackle, then there’s a save. It’s everyone helping each other out and just that little bit. I think when we’re conceding those goals, for large portions of the game we were doing really well, and we didn’t feel like we were too far from it. We’ve just got to keep being tough to break down, and we’ve been good at it the past couple of games."

There isn’t much to separate these squads on paper. MNUFC2 is ahead by just two points and two places in the standings, though they have a game in hand. Both sides have negative goal differentials, but the Loons have managed to score six more goals than Portland.

Since their win against MNUFC2 on June 3, Timbers2 have won two and lost two. Two high-scoring defeats to Austin and the 12th-place Real Monarchs in their last two matches have left them in need of a defensive statement, but the evident vulnerability in their backline should come as an encouraging sign to a Loons side that is starting to fire on all cylinders once again. 

Sunday’s match will mark the first time this season that MNUFC2 defender Jason Ramos will be available for selection as he nears his long-awaited return from injury. The center back was one of nine MNUFC2 players to make the matchday squad for MNUFC’s midweek friendly against FC Kaiserslautern, though he wasn’t one of the six to get minutes. 

With valuable first-team minutes and momentum behind them in MLS NEXT Pro play, the Twos will be itching to take the pitch on Sunday and ready to earn all three points. Come out to the National Sports Center Stadium at 6:00 p.m. this Sunday to catch the action, or stream the match exclusively on AppleTV’s MLS season Pass.