Howdy, partner. MNUFC2 is headed deep into the heart of Texas tomorrow for a midweek matchup with North Texas SC, and it’s going to be a big test. FC Dallas’ developmental side is among MLS NEXT Pro’s most dominant teams, meaning they won’t be going down easy.
Last time these teams faced off, the visiting Texans took all three points at the NSC. A 3-0 scoreline made for a comprehensive win, though the Loons had some moments of their own. Both squads will likely look quite different than they did last time out, though, making this reverse fixture less of a rematch and more of a new opportunity.
The Twos come into this match on a five-game losing streak, but that span of games has seen continued development of players in the pathway. In last week’s match against Houston Dynamo 2, U17 midfielder Aidan Martinez scored his first professional goal, while U19 goalkeeper Adam Heiden made his professional debut in net. The result went against them in the end, but such monumental steps in these young careers are far more than consolation prizes; they’re stepping stones to building a proper club.
As far as tomorrow’s opposition goes, 2024 has been a successful year, results-wise. They’re currently second in the Western Conference, with 33 points from 14 games. That puts them at a league-leading 2.36 ppg, and combined with their conference-best +14 goal difference, every stat points toward North Texas being in the conversation for the best team in MLS NEXT Pro this year.
In their last five matches, NTSC have four wins and a draw, after which they won the shootout for the extra point. They’re a hard team to conquer; in fact, they’ve only lost one game this season, a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Town FC. Though the stats are daunting, this team isn’t invulnerable. With a dose of resolve and determination, the Loons need to believe that they can leave Choctaw Stadium with a positive result.
With the academy season over for several weeks now, more and more academy players have been able to step up into second-team training. These youngsters will continue to get chances to impress, and with such a talented opponent up next, they’ll also be getting valuable experience against high-level opposition.
Wednesday’s match kicks off at 7:45 p.m. CT, with streaming available on MLS Season Pass. Don’t miss this exciting midweek matchup!
