MNUFC2 outshot Austin FC II on Sunday afternoon at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota, but ultimately fell 3-1 to the Texas side. The Twos will next face St. Louis CITY2 at Allianz Field in Saint Paul at 3:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 20.
3’ (0-1) - Austin FC II scored early after they drove into MNUFC2’s penalty area on the right side. Daniel Cieśla saw that Ervin Torres had open space in the middle of the box, connected a pass, and Torres eventually buried the shot to give the side the early lead.
6’ (0-2) - The Verde & Black doubled the lead. MNUFC2 goalkeeper Kristers Bite was pulled off his line to attempt to stop an open runner towards goal. The ball bounced back out where Austin winger Micah Burton scored on an open net.
9’ - The Twos created their first scoring chance off a set piece. Defender Nick Dang received the service into the box from midfielder Jakob Friedman, but his header was stopped by goalkeeper Erik Lauta.
15’ - MNUFC Academy midfielder Max Harwood sent a long through-ball pass to fellow midfielder Luciano Pechota, who made a run at goal. Pechota’s shot from close-range inside the box was ultimately blocked by Luata to keep the score at 2-0.
32’ (1-2) - Midfielder Luciano Pechota scored his first professional goal to put MNUFC2 on the board. The Twos sent a corner kick into the box that was initially cleared, but Pechota ended up finding a pocket of space near the edge of the 18-yard box and his volley strike found the back of the net.
35’ (1-3) - The Texas side scored their third goal of the afternoon. Winger Erik Feliciano found space off a dribble inside the Twos’ 18-yard box, curling his shot just above Bite’s reach to extend the lead.
58’ - First Team forward Marcus Caldeira created the Twos’ first dangerous scoring chance of the second half when he attempted a header at the far post, but the ball missed just wide of the post.
68’ - MNUFC2 came close to scoring from a corner kick with service by Pechota. His ball into the box was received with a header by Caldeira, but Lauta blocked the attempt. The ball then bounced through traffic right at the goal line, but was eventually cleared away.
GOALS
0-1 ATXII -Ervin Torres (Daniel Cieśla) - 3’
0-2 ATXII - Micah Burton (Ibrahima Sall)- 6’
1-2 MNUFC2 - Luciano Pechota - 32’
1-3 ATXII - Erick Feliciano (Ervin Torres, Dren Dobruna) - 35’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
MNUFC2 - Alpha Kabia - 19’
ATXII - Micah Burton - 45’+1’
ATXII - Daniel Cieśla - 56’
ATXII - Jason Shackell - 60’
ATXII - Vlad Dănciuțiu - 76’
*
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through June 8, 2026)*
Goals – Marcus Caldeira (7)
Assists – Jakob Friedman, Darius Randell (3)
Saves – Keane Perkins (13)
Wins – Keane Perkins (3)
Shutouts – Kristers Bite, Keane Perkins (2)
NOTABLE STATS
1 - MNUFC2 midfielder Luciano Pechota scored his first MNUFC2 and MLS NEXT Pro goal during today’s game against Austin FC II.
LINEUPS
MNUFC2 XI: GK Kristers Bite; D Anderson Farris, Troy Putt (Jordan Adebayo-Smith 66’ ), Nick Dang©, Jack Clarkson; M Max Harwood (Mo Bojang 46’), Luciano Pechota (Cal Grulke 82’), Alpha Kabia; F Jakob Friedman (Hector Cruz 66’), Darius Randell (Nosa Osagie 82’) , Marcus Caldeira
Substitutes Not Used: GK Keane Perkins; D Jadan Bernard, Lenox Moua; F Issa Saidi
Austin FC II XI: GK Erik Lauta; D Dren Dobruna (Patrick Cayelli 46’), Evan Watt, Jules Bery, Daniel Cieśla; M Djakaria Barro, Jorge Alastuey Aperte© (Mohammad Badawiya 90’+3’), Ervin Torre; F Erik Feliciano (Diego Abarca 61’), Ibrahima Sall (Vlad Dănciuțiu 71’), Micah Burton
Substitutes Not Used: GK Charlie Farrar; D Stefan Dobrijevic, Artem Dashkovets; M Marcel Ruszel, Kenan Hot
