The busy week just keeps getting busier and ever more red, as MNUFC2 welcomes St. Louis CITY2 to the National Sports Center this weekend. Or are they kind of pink? They claim it’s “city red,” but I don’t know what that means. Regardless, it’ll be the second of three Minnesota vs. St. Louis matchups in the next week, so get ready for déjà vu again. And again.
Your Twos are coming into this match looking for a bounceback win, having suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands (or feet) of North Texas SC last time out. Despite the loss, Head Coach Jeremy Hall and the boys produced plenty of promising play in the opening and closing stages of their last match, and with many of the MNUFC2 regulars earning first-team minutes in U.S. Open Cup action last week, they’ll be feeling sharp and ready to prove that they can recover from this minor setback.
A total of six MNUFC2 players made their first-team debuts against Louisville City, including Wessel Speel, who kept a clean sheet, and Darius Randell, who became the club’s youngest debutant and goal scorer. Babacar Niang, Kieran Chandler, Luke Hille, and Curt Calov likewise earned minutes, looking sharp and showing the quality of MNUFC2’s roster. Chandler even earned his first MLS minutes, starting against Houston in the Loons’ last match.
Now, with a return to MLS NEXT Pro league play on the horizon, the focus will shift to making up ground on the league leaders. While most of the league has played between seven and nine matches in 2025, the Twos have only gotten five matches under their belt, leaving room between them and the top of the table, despite their incredibly hot start to the season. They lead the league in points per game thus far (2.4), though, so catching up may simply be a matter of playing more games.
MNUFC2 will have a chance to start jumping up the standings this weekend, as they face off with the team directly above them. St. Louis CITY2 are just two points ahead of the Loons, with an overall record of 4-4-1 (W-L-D) and an away record of 2-3-0. They’ve lost four of their last five, conceding 13 goals in that span and scoring just five of their own.
Though they’re fresh off a less than stellar run of form, CITY2 have proven that they present a real threat on their day. Brendan McSorley has been the danger man for the St. Louis side, grabbing a pair of goals and assists in eight games this season.
With first-team fixture congestion calling the whole roster into action — for both MNUFC and St. Louis CITY — it’s likely that this weekend’s MLSNP matchup features fewer first-teamers than normal. With less experienced lineups getting a chance to shine, we could see the emergence of some motivated talents looking to make their mark.
It’s going to be a busy day at the NSC. Come out a little early and tailgate in the parking lot to make the most of your matchday experience. Plus, if you’re an MNUFC Season Ticket Member, don’t forget about the Get-Together being hosted at the match! Grab some free food and beverages, get some first-team autographs, and hear from Loons Assistant Coach Cameron Knowles during halftime. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. CT, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00. If you can’t make it out to Blaine, streaming will be available for FREE on MLSNEXTPro.com.
