Sporting Kansas City II forward Beto Avilahas been named the MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 9 after bagging his second brace of the season in a 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids 2 on Sunday at Rock Chalk Park. Avila's brace helped Sporting KC II mount a late, second half comeback and get them back into the win column.
In another two-goal performance against Colorado, Avila found the back of the net in the 72nd to even the score and then buried the winner in the 83rd. Both goals were assisted on by midfielder Kamron Habibullah as the dynamic duo continues to propel the highest-scoring offense in MLS NEXT Pro.
Avila signed with Sporting KC II in February ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season after recording 15 goals and 13 assists in 95 professional appearances since 2019, including a two-year MLS stint with Houston Dynamo FC from 2022-2023. He spent last year on loan with Charleston Battery in the USL Championship, helping to lead them to the USL Championship Final.
In his first season with SKC II, the forward has scored clutch goal after clutch goal, firing the lever at Dynamo Dos in the opening match of the campaign, a pair of goals to spark a comeback at Rapids 2 in April and Sunday's brace also against Colorado. The striker ranks second on the team in goals scored with five and has added an assist.
Down one with less than 20 minutes to play, Avila capped off a terrific offensive sequence with the match-tying goal. Academy defender Jacob Bartlett torched his man along the sideline before sliding the ball to Habibullah at the top of the box. The midfielder then slipped Avila in on goal where the forward wasted no time tucking the ball into the back of the net.
A little over 10 minutes later, the same pairing combined once more to put the home side out in front. A booming ball from Roberto Hategan in the defensive half jump-started a counter-attack as Pau Vidal slyly brought down the pass in the attacking third. Vidal found Habibullah who unselfishly linked up with the right foot of Avila inside the 18. The shot skipped across the keeper's momentum and found the target to give SKC II the one goal advantage.
Sporting KC II would see the lead out for the remainder of the contest and notched their fourth result in the last four matches. Next up, Avila and SKC II will travel to the forward's hometown and birthplace to take on Austin FC II at Parmer Field in Austin, Texas on Friday, May 17. Kickoff for the Friday night fight is set for 8 p.m. CT and can be found on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
