After losing their second game 3-1 to Houston Dynamo 2, the Twos look to complete their three-game tour of Texas by taking on Austin FC II this Wednesday night at 8 p.m. at Parmer Field.
Although the Twos ended up on the losing side against Houston for the second time, there were positives to be learned from the defeat. Highlights included the first goal in the 33rd minute when a corner found defender Finn McRobb near the six-yard line. McRobb headed the ball towards the left flank where Twos’ speedster Jordan Adebayo-Smith finished with precision. Unfortunately for McRobb, he experienced the other end of the spectrum just minutes later when his attempt to clear the ball from the defensive third resulted in an errant header into the Twos’ own goal, allowing Houston to equalise. However, given the talent McRobb has shown consistently this season, the young defender is expected to bounce back against Austin.
While the news of Kage Romanshyn Jr.’s injury was tough for the Twos to swallow, they will not be lacking in leadership on the pitch. Midfielder Rory O’Driscoll will continue to wear the captain’s armband and will continue to provide a veteran presence and stability to the team. Another experienced leader is crucial, especially as this Texas tour provides valuable opportunities for standout MNUFC Academy players to gain playing time at the MLS NEXT Pro level.
One recent success story from the academy is striker Darius Randell, who just signed a deal with MNUFC2 after making the most of his opportunities. Now, other academy prospects – such as midfielders Anderson Farris and Aiden Martinez – will look to follow in Randell’s footsteps by impressing at the next level and making their own case for a full-time spot at MNUFC2. Hopefully, this match against Austin FC II will give them a chance to prove themselves and secure a more permanent spot in the squad. Additionally, the Twos have been tough on Austin in the 2024 season, drawing their three previous encounters and winning two of three of the shootouts that followed. Hopefully, the Twos can continue that trend and score another positive result at Austin’s expense.
See if MNUFC2 can defeat Austin FC II this Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. at Parmer Field by heading to MLSNEXTPro.com and streaming the game for FREE.
