Sporting KC II (3-4-1, 10 points) will wrap up a two-match road trip Friday night in San Jose against Earthquakes II (3-3-1, 10 points) at PayPal Park. The MLS NEXT Pro regular season showdown will begin at 8 p.m. CT and can be live-streamed at MLSNEXTPro.com.
First-year head coach Benny Feilhaber and SKC II are on a hot streak, winning their last two matches in comeback fashion. First, they erased a two-goal deficit at home against Real Monarchs to win 4-2, before scoring two second-half goals at Timbers2 to win 2-1 away from home. After a slow start to the MLS NEXT Pro campaign, Feilhaber and the SKC II offense have begun to find their stride.
Leading that charge has been two figures in the SKC II attacking third. Sporting KC Academy product Mataeo Bunbury has three goals in the last two matches, and a team-high four goals on the season. He bagged a first-half brace against the Monarchs to pull SKC II level and netted the game-winner against T2 last Sunday.
Helping out Bunbury on the offensive side has been winger Julian Vazquez whose five goal contributions (two goals, three assists) pace the team. Vazquez scored his first SKC II goal against the Monarchs and equalized against T2 off a Rauf Salifu assist. The SKC II attacker will not be available for Friday's match as he has been called into duty with the Sporting Kansas City first team.
Providing support in the attack from the midfield all season long has been Collin Fernandez. The SKC II captain has started every match for SKC II, tallying a goal and a pair of assists. His set-piece partner Cade Thomson has looked lethal on numerous restarts, serving up delicious crosses into dangerous areas. Thomson has two assists in just four appearances this season.
In the defensive third Jahon Rad has been the leader out of the back. The centerback has been sturdy all season long, playing every minute and posting seven tackles. Alongside Rad has been 2022 MLS SuperDraft first-round selection, Esai Easley. In his first professional season, Easley has started three of seven appearances and been incredibly clutch for the SKC II backline on multiple occasions. SKC II will be without defender Cole McLagan after he picked up two yellow cards against Timbers2.
Looking across the pitch at Earthquakes II, the San Jose side is led by Generation Adidas player Ousseni Bouda. The 2022 MLS SuperDraft selection has two goals this season, tied for the team lead. Alongside Bouda, Maximillian Arfsten and Eduardo Blanco have found the back of the net twice with Arfsten adding two assists as well.
Two red-hot teams take the field against one another in a Friday night MLS NEXT Pro battle. Earthquakes II comes into the match following a 7-1 route of Rapids 2 last Sunday with SKC II looking to extend their win streak.
Match Information
MLS NEXT Pro: Match 9
Date: Friday, May 20
Kickoff: 8 p.m. CT
Location: PayPal Park (San Jose, California)
Live Stream: mlsnextpro.com
Sporting Kansas City II: 3-4-1, 10 points
Earthquakes II: 3-3-1, 10 points
SOCIAL TAGS:
Match-specific hashtag: #SJvSKC
Twitter: @SportingKCII
Instagram: @SportingKCII
Twitter: EarthquakesII
Instagram: EarthquakesII
