The Twos are staying put for the third consecutive week, with yet another home match coming to the National Sports Center this weekend. This time, the Tacoma Defiance are the visiting squad, and after an impressive display on Mother’s Day, MNUFC2 will be hoping to keep the good vibes going in their home stadium.
With a contingent of first-team players bolstering the roster, the Twos took down a talented Ventura County FC side 1-0 last Sunday in dramatic fashion. Though Patrick Weah and Loïc Mesanvi created several dangerous chances throughout the match, they’d have to wait until the second minute of second-half stoppage time for the breakthrough.
A spell of sustained pressure in the dying moments of the game saw the Loons get one last chance from Zarek Valentin’s long ball over the VCFC back line. Mesanvi jumped into action, settling, beating a few defenders, and burying the game-winner with ice in his veins. It was MNUFC2’s second victory of the year and their first at home. It was also the first regular-season shutout for the hosts, behind the joint efforts of Clint Irwin and Fred Emmings.
As for this Sunday’s opponent, their last match wasn’t as kind. A 4-1 loss to Timbers2 continued Tacoma’s run of mixed form, with Seattle’s developmental side seemingly unable to sustain any kind of momentum in 2024. Though they’ve accumulated 14 points from eight games, the Defiance have been all over the map this year, winning big just a week before losing just as spectacularly. This is MLS NEXT Pro, but their swings in performance are still a bit confusing.
Tacoma’s goal difference through eight games is right at zero, having scored and conceded 16 goals, an average of two per match. Clearly, there will be opportunities for the Loons to take advantage of, but against a team as unpredictable as the Defiance have been thus far, it’s likely that whatever we anticipate will almost certainly not come to pass.
The boys are going to have to be sharp in this, especially given the fact that most first-teamers have returned to the senior roster during this congested period of MLS games. Reinforcements will come via the academy once again this week, with local lads likely to earn more minutes alongside the MNUFC2 regulars.
Sunday’s match is once again scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m. CT, with doors opening an hour before kick. If you can’t make it out to the National Sports Center this weekend, streaming will be available via MLSNEXTPro.com.
