Would you look at that? MNUFC2 has ANOTHER home game! Back-to-back Blaine game days are a rare treat this time of year, but never fear; your Mother’s Day plans are here. This Sunday, May 12, at 2:00 p.m., the Twos are taking on Ventura County FC, the hastily rebranded LA Galaxy II, which is not to be confused with Ventura County Fusion of USL2.
After a tough 1-2 loss to St. Louis CITY2 in their home opener last week, the Twos are still looking to pick up their first home win of the season. Academy standouts Justin Arias and Darius Randell impressed last time out, causing problems for their older opposition and looking more than comfortable at the professional level. Head Coach Jeremy Hall will need more top-notch performances from his Academy players if his team is going to get anything out of this Mother’s Day matchup.
The youngsters weren’t the only standouts last Friday, as Patrick Weah continued his goal-scoring form. The Homegrown striker scored his team’s lone goal in the 58th minute, following an extended period of high pressure from the Loons. Loïc Mesanvi ultimately forced the turnover, feeding Weah for the finish and leveling the score to set up a dramatic finish.
Ventura County had a better result last week, but only narrowly so. Their 2-2 draw against Austin FC II ended with a shootout win, giving VCFC two points for the second straight match. After rattling off four wins in a row to start the MLS NEXT Pro season, Ventura County has quieted down a bit lately, losing to league leaders LAFC 2 and drawing their last two matches.
Despite their slight dip in form, this weekend’s visitors have accumulated 16 points in just seven games, a 2.29 ppg clip that would impress even the most skeptical critic. They’re averaging more than two goals scored per game, demonstrating a lethal knack for finding the back of the net.
This weekend’s showdown will be a tough one for the Loons, but despite their lack of points, the boys are more than ready for the challenge. It looks like we’ll have some beautiful weather on Sunday, and a nice dose of that Minnesota sun might be just what the doctor ordered to help these young men make the most of this opportunity to play against another strong team.
Sunday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m. CT, with doors opening an hour before kick. Be sure to come early to enjoy some special Mother’s Day activities. If you can’t make it out to the National Sports Center this weekend, streaming will be available via MLSNEXTPro.com.
