MLS NEXT PRO Opening Weekend

By Anonymous (not verified), March 29, 2022

Thank you MLS:

Sellout Crowd and Two Shootouts Highlight MLS NEXT Pro Inaugural Weekend

St. Louis City 2 midfielder Vitor Dias. Photo Credit: Jeff Curry ,USA TODAY Sports

MLS NEXT Pro played its inaugural match in front of a sold-out crowd Friday night in St. Louis, as the home club really gave its fans something to cheer about: a 2-0 St Louis CITY2 win over visiting Rochester New York FC. The first goal in MLS NEXT Pro history was scored by homegrown talent Wan Kuzain of CITY2. WATCH HERE | PHOTOSOne of the unique elements of MLS NEXT Pro’s inaugural season is the use of shootouts: regular season matches that end in a draw will be decided by a shootout using kicks from the penalty mark. The first weekend of the season saw not one , but two shootouts. New England Revolution II secured the first shootout win in MLS NEXT Pro history on Sunday, besting NYCFC II 4-3 to claim the extra point after a 2-2 draw. Colorado Rapids 2 picked up an extra point over Sporting KC II later that day, winning the shootout, 4-2 , after a 1-1 match draw. Other winners during opening weekend included Orlando City B, Inter Miami II, Houston Dynamo 2, North Texas SC, Philadelphia Union II and Tacoma Defiance.The action continues this week with one match on Wednesday, two on Saturday and eight on Sunday. MNUFC2 will host Sporting KC II in this week’s Game of the Week enhanced broadcast on mlsnextpro.com (2 p.m. ET).