With three wins on the bounce and another home game on the horizon, the 2024 season is really heating up for MNUFC2. This weekend’s matchup against Sporting Kansas City II finds both teams in good form, and this edition of the Kindest Opponent-ship in Sports is shaping up to be a good one.
Last time out, the Twos took down Rapids 2 by a score of 2-0, behind goals from Molik Jesse Khan and Patrick Weah. Weah’s strike from the PK spot brought the Homegrown striker up to five goals in six matches, leading MNUFC2 in 2024 and extending what has been a great run of form. Khan’s long-range strike showcased the midfielder’s quality and sealed the victory in style.
The win against Colorado capped off an outstanding record of three wins and one loss in the month of May, a run that saw MNUFC2 firmly find their feet and turn the season around. The Loons continue to climb the Western Conference standings, as they now sit at 10th with 12 points in eight games. This turnaround comes directly from the efforts of a mixture of first-team, second-team, and academy talent, as MLS NEXT Pro continues to pay dividends for the pro player pathway.
While Sporting KC II didn’t win their match last weekend, they’ve only lost one of their last four. Most recently, a 2-2 draw against Austin FC II saw them struggle against one of the league’s less established sides. El Tree Dos sit just two points behind MNUFC2 going into this weekend, but as we know, it’s difficult to gauge the roster of another MLS NEXT Pro team on any given matchday. Just because these two are close to each other in the standings doesn’t mean they’ll match up against SKC in the same way.
Under the guidance of former USMNT player Benny Feilhaber and assistant coach/former Loon Ike Opara, SKC II have accumulated 17 points in 10 games, and they’re still undefeated on the road. Two wins and two draws in their away matches have proven their ability to deal with unfamiliar environments, meaning Jeremy Hall and company will have to bring their best if they want to change that impressive stat.
Since MLS NEXT Pro began, these teams have met a total of five times, with the Kansans edging the series three to two. This will be their first meeting in 2024, with the reverse fixture not scheduled until September.
Sunday’s match will kick off at 6:00 p.m. CT, with gates opening an hour earlier at 5:00. Come on out to watch some of Minnesota’s finest soccer players as they look to keep their red-hot form going for another week.
