MNUFC2 earned a 4-3 victory over Sporting Kansas City II on Monday night at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota. Forward Marcus Caldeira recorded a first-half brace, while Troy Putt and Anderson Farris each added second-half goals to secure all three points for the Twos. The result marked Caldeira's third multi-goal performance of the season and both Putt’s and Farris' first-career MLS NEXT Pro goal. MNUFC2 will return to action on Sunday, June 14, when the Twos host Austin FC II at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota at 2 p.m.
14’ (1-0) - MNUFC2 opened the scoring as Darius Randell carried from the defensive third and made a long switch to the right flank to connect with Troy Putt. Putt connected with Jakob Friedman near the end line. Friedman then slipped a short pass to Marcus Caldeira, sitting on the six-yard line, for him to find the back of the net.
24’ (2-0) - The Twos sustained their offensive pressure and scored again as Alpha Kabia found and delivered a through ball that rolled past a wide-open Caldeira at the top of the box. Caldeira took a touch and struck the ball under SKCII goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp and into the far corner of the net.
26’ - SKCII responded with a scoring chance of their own as Tega Ikoba drove past a defender and took a shot aimed at the far post, but Keane Perkins dove to his left and deflected the ball, making the save.
40’ - Putt lobbed a corner kick to the back post, where Nick Dang lunged over a SKCII defender and headed the ball down toward the corner of the goal. Kortkamp made the diving save, but Dang secured the rebound and struck the ball back at the net. The keeper made the save again.
45’ (2-1) - SKCII found the back of the net as Shane Donovan carried into the attacking third and slipped a short through pass for lkoba. Lkoba carried into the penalty area and fired a low attempt to push it over the line and close the deficit for the visiting team.
49’ - MNUFC2 earned a free kick on the 18-yard line on the right flank. Friedman stepped up to take the kick, where he curled it to the near top right corner, forcing goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp to dive and push it out of danger, eventually ending a goal kick for SCKII.
51’ - The Twos continued to create dangerous scoring chances as Vigilante crossed the ball from the right side of the pitch over to Putt at the top center of the box, who took a touch and shot the ball at the right side, but the ball hit the post and was cleared out.
53’ (3-1) - MNUFC2 added a third one to the count through Putt after a buildup through Randell. Randell carried into the attacking third and played Caldeira in the center right outside the SCKII area. Caldeira slipped a short-square pass for Putt on the left side, where he then fired a one-touch attempt to find the back of the net.
64’ - Jordan Adebayo-Smith made an immediate impact as he crossed the ball from the right corner of the box over to a wide-open Luciano Pechota at the top middle of the box, who took a shot that deflected off the right post.
69’ (4-1) - The Twos added a fourth goal through Anderson Farris after the midfielder won possession with a crucial slide tackle in the middle third. Farris carried the ball into the attacking third and, from several yards outside the penalty area, unleashed a shot that found the back of the net for his first MLS NEXT Pro goal.
79’ - SKCII created another dangerous chance from a corner kick, sending a low service into the box that bounced and connected with Luca Antongirolami's header. Perkins reacted quickly and made a diving save to preserve MNUFC2's lead.
82’ (4-2) - SKCII found another goal when Johann Ortiz played a pass to a streaking Ikoba on the right side of the box. Ikoba chipped the ball over a sliding Perkins and into the net.
89’ - The Twos continued to press for another goal as Randell found Hector Cruz in a central position. Cruz carried the ball into the attacking third and unleashed a shot that forced Kortkamp to tip the effort over the crossbar, resulting in a corner kick for MNUFC2.
90’ + 11’ (4-3) - SKCII pulled a goal back deep into stoppage time after taking advantage of a defensive miscue. The ball fell to Missael Rodríguez on the left flank, and he drove forward before unleashing a shot from outside the penalty area that found the back of the net, trimming Minnesota's lead to one.
GOALS
1-0 MNUFC2 - Marcus Caldeira (Jakob Friedman) - 14’
2-0 MNUFC2 - Marcus Caldeira (Alpha Kabia, Darius Randell) - 24’
2-1 SCKII - Tega Ikoba (Shane Donovan, Zamir Loyo Reynaga) - 45’
3-1 MNUFC2 - Troy Putt (Marcus Caldeira, Darius Randell) - 53’
4-1 MNUFC2 - Anderson Farris - 69’
4-2 SCKII - Tega Ikoba (Johann Ortiz, Missael Rodríguez) - 82’
4-3 SCKII - Missael Rodríguez - 90’ + 11’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
SKCII - Carter Derksen (caution) - 11’
MNUFC2 - Alpha Kabia (caution) - 31’
SCKII - Missael Rodriguez (caution) - 49’
MNUFC2 - Nick Dang (caution) - 65’
MNUFC2 - Mo Bojang (caution) - 71’
MNUFC2 - Will Maynes (Ejection) - 86’
SCKII - Alex Cunningham (caution) - 90’ + 7’
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
3 - Forward Marcus Caldeira recorded his third multi-goal performance of the season, tallying one hat trick and two braces. The two-goal outing increased his season total to seven goals, the most on MNUFC2.
1 - Midfielder Anderson Farris scored his first MLS NEXT Pro and MNUFC2 goal during tonight’s match against Sporting Kansas City II.
1 - Forward Troy Putt notched his first MLS NEXT Pro and MNUFC2 goal during the match against SKC II.
1 - MNUFC Academy defender Will Maynes made his MLS NEXT Pro and MNUC2 debut in tonight’s match against Sporting Kansas City II.
LINEUPS
MNUFC2 XI: GK Keane Perkins; D Anderson Farris, Jack Clarkson, Nick Dang ©, Sam Vigilante (Mo Bojang 54’, Will Maynes 86’); M Troy Putt (Max Harwood 63’), Jakob Friedman (Jordan Adebayo-Smith 63’), Darius Randell, Luciano Pechota, Alpha Kabia (Hector Cruz 63’); F Marcus Caldeira
Substitutes Not Used: GK Kai Zeruhn; D Issa Saidi, Jadan Bernard; M Cal Grulke
Sporting Kansas City II XI: GK Jack Kortkamp; D Pierre Lurot ©, Luca Antongirolami, Zane Wantland (Alex Cunningham 63’), Jack Francka (Sam Worcester 80’); M Blaine Mabie, Zamir Loyo Reynaga (Johann Ortiz 46’), Carter Derksen; F Tega Ikoba, Ty Haas (Missael Rodriguez 46’), Shane Donovan (Gael Quintero 67’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jacob Molinaro; D Jaxson Kalinka, M Trevor Burns; F Edson Brooks
