MNUFC2 closed out the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro regular season with a 3-2 victory over LAFC2 on Sunday, securing its second consecutive berth in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. Hector Cruz, DJ Taylor and Jordan Adebayo-Smith each found the back of the net for the Twos, with Adebayo-Smith scoring the game-winning goal in the 77th minute to seal all three points. MNUFC2 will now await the conclusion of the remaining regular-season matches to determine its opponent, date and location for its opening match of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
3’ - LAFC2 recorded the first scoring chance as Tommy Mihalic found himself in the corner from a lobbed pass. Mihalic controlled the ball and sent a pass over to Liam Lambert in the box towards the near post, who took a quick shot, but MNUFC Academy goalkeeper Alex Witte made the save.
9’ - MNUFC2 responded with a scoring chance of their own as Darius Randell took a shot from inside the left half of the box aimed at the far right post, but the ball rolled under the diving LAFC2 goalkeeper Ethan Scally and wide, resulting in a goal kick.
15’ (0-1) - LAFC2 opened the scoring on a counterattack from a Twos’ corner kick as the service was deflected out by Marius Omotoye Aiyerno’s head and up for Ernesto Rodriguez, who gained possession and dribbled the ball up the entire pitch, shaking off Jakob Friedman’s defense, and buried his shot from inside the box into the right side of the net, beating Witte.
19’ (1-1) - The Twos evened the scoring on a quick passing play as Mamadou Dieng intercepted a pass from Scally, gained possession and found Darius Randell, who quickly sent a pass to MNUFC Academy midfielder Hector Cruz in the middle of the box. Cruz then fired a shot into the right side of the net, beating Scally’s diving attempt.
23’ - Minnesota continued to be a threat this time through Dieng after Nick Dang sent a long throughball into the attacking third. Dieng picked up the ball on the right flank and carried into The Black and gold’s penalty area to take on goalkeeper Scally. Dieng then took the shot, but the attempt went just wide of the far post.
29’ - MUFC2 created another quick-passing play as Friedman sent a corner kick into the box that connected with Dieng’s head who re-directed the ball over to Jack Clarkson inside the 6-yard box. Clarkson aimed his header at the right post, but Scally made the save.
39’ (2-1) - The Twos gained the lead as DJ Taylor fired a powerful shot from just outside the box. The ball connected with the left post and deflected into the back of the net giving Scally no chance.
53’ - MNUFC2 opened the second half with an offensive chance as Dieng led Taylor up the pitch in the offensive third. Taylor possessed the ball and drove into the right side of the box, lobbing the ball over to Dang, who headed the ball up and over the crossbar.
69’ - Taylor sent Randell from the defensive third up the right sideline of the pitch on a long pass. Randell took the ball, cut to his left inside the box and took a shot, but Scally made the save and deflected the ball back into play.
73’ (2-2) - LAFC was awarded a penalty kick as Witte tripped Nathan Mardaresco in the box. Decarlo Guerra took the kick and beat Witte.
77’ (3-2) - Jordan Adebayo-Smith re-gained the lead for the Twos on a ball from Cruz. Adebayo-Smith took the ball up the left side of the offensive third, into the box, and took a shot aimed at the far post that beat Scally.
GOALS
1-0 LAFC2 - Ernesto Rodriguez (Sebastian Nava) - 15’
1-1 MNUFC2 - Hector Cruz (Darius Randell, Mamadou Dieng) - 19’
2-1 MNUFC2 - DJ Taylor - 39’
2-2 LAFC - Decarlo Guerra (penalty kick) - 73’
3-2 MNUFC2 - Jordan Adebayo-Smith (Hector Cruz) - 78’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
LAFC2 - Charlie Kosakoff (caution) - 75’
LAFC2 - Skylar Kaplan (caution) - 81’
MNUFC2 - Jordan Adebayo-Smith (caution) - 90’
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through September 20, 2026)
Goals – Darius Randell (12)
Assists – Darius Randell (5)
Saves – Kristers Bite (37)
Wins – Kristers Bite, Keane Perkins (4)
Shutouts – Keane Perkins (3)
NOTABLE STATS
1 - Midfielder Hector Cruz scored his second MLS NEXT Pro goal in his last three matches and added a third assist in tonight’s match, sitting just two behind Darius Randell who leads the club in assists (5).
2 - Jordan Adebayo-Smith scored his second goal in MLS NEXT Pro to give the Twos the lead.
2 - MNUFC2 clinched a MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs berth for the second postseason in-a-row.
45 - MNUFC2 ended the season with 45 points, the most in club history after ending the 2025 season with 44 points.
LINEUPS
MNUFC2 XI: GK Alex Witte; D DJ Taylor ©, Nick Dang, Kieran Chandler, Jack Clarkson; M Hector Cruz (Max Harwood, 79’), Luciano Pechota (Kage Romanshyn 65’), Alpha Kabia (Samuel Vigilante 85’); F Darius Randell, Mamadou Dieng (Luke Hille 65’), Jakob Friedman (Jordan Adebayo-Smith 65’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kristers Bite; D Andy Farris; M Philip Tarnue; F Troy Putt
Los Angeles FC 2 XI: GK Ethan Scally; D Skylar Kaplan, Giuliano Whitchurch, Travis Babineau (Josh Santiago 59’), Christian Diaz ©; M Sebastian Nava (Decarlo Guerra 46’), Eduardo Villeda, Liam Lambert; F Tommy Mihalic (Charlie Kosakoff 46’), Marius Omotoye Aiyenero (Nathan Mardaresco 46’), Ernesto Rodriguez (Jacob Machuca 76’)
