MNUFC2 opened its 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season in difficult fashion, falling to LAFC2 by a 4-1 score on Sunday, where forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith scored the lone Twos’ goal on the afternoon.
The home side struck first and opened the scoring on the day when Adrian Wibowo connected a pass through the MNUFC2 back line, connecting with Leonardo Flores. Twos’ goalkeeper Alec Smir was far off his line when he made an attempt to intercept and clear the ball away from Flores, but mis-kicked the ball. Flores then took advantage of the poor clearance and drove towards goal, putting the ball in the back of the net from a comfortable distance.
In successive attempts, LAFC 2 created two close scoring opportunities. First in the 34th minute, a pass from inside the Twos’ six-yard box made its way across the box, but the Black & Gold attacker failed to connect on the thru-ball. Then in the 35th minute, Luis Muller took a shot from atop the 18-yard box, but Smir made the save and punched the ball high above the crossbar.
Just before halftime, MNUFC2 saw its closest scoring opportunity when winger Darius Randell drove the ball up the right side, sending the ball into LAFC 2’s six-yard box. Forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith took the shot at close range, but was blocked. Upon receiving the rebound from the blocked shot, Loïc Mesanvi’s shot went high.
The Twos yet again had another close scoring chance fall short of a goal in the 53rd minute. Randell maneuvered his way through the LAFC 2 midfield before he connected a thru-ball pass to Adebayo-Smith, whose shot inside the box was saved. Upon the ball settling on the opposite side of the box, Mesanvi sent in another shot that just barely missed past the near post.
But the Black & Gold side would score twice more to extend their lead. Luis Muller would notch a brace after tallying two goals in the 56th and 60th minutes as a result of two successful passes and runs beyond the MNUFC2 back line.
In the 61st minute, midfielder Rory O’Driscoll was substituted off due to a leg injury just shortly after coming into the match, eventually being replaced by Molik Jesse Khan.
The Twos continued to fight for a goal and were rewarded for their efforts when midfielders Moses Nyeman and Jesse Khan connected consecutive passes into the LAFC box. Khan’s final pass into the six-yard box landed right in front of Adebayo-Smith, who tapped the ball into goal.
A few minutes later in the 73rd minute, the home team scored a fourth goal to extend the lead to 4-1.
MNUFC2 next will travel to face Chicago House A.C. in the First Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, March 20. The first-round fixture at Langhorst Field in Elmhurst, Illinois is set to kick at 7:00 p.m. CT.
GOALS
0-1 LAFC – Leonardo Flores, assisted by Adrian Wibowo (13’)
0-2 LAFC – Luis Muller, assisted by Luca Bombino (56’)
0-3 LAFC – Luis Muller, assisted by Shakir Nixon (60’)
1-3 MIN – Jordan Adebayo-Smith, assisted by Molik Jesse Khan (65’)
1-4 LAFC – Matthew Evans, assisted by Luis Muller (73’)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Caution, LAFC – Adrian Wibowo (7’)
Caution, LAFC – Luca Bombino (10’)
Caution, LAFC – Thomas Musto (15’)
Caution, MIN – Loïc Mesanvi (19’)
Caution, LAFC – Adrian Sanders (24’)
NOTABLE STATS
1 – Forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith scored his first MLS NEXT Pro goal of 2024 while midfielder Molik Jesse Khan provided his first assist of the season. Adebayo-Smith notably tallied 12 goals last season for New England Revolution II.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through March 17)
Goals – Jordan Adebayo-Smith (1)
Assists – Molik Jesse Khan (1)
Saves – Alec Smir (4)
Wins – N/A
Shutouts – N/A
