Sporting Kansas City II defender Lucas Rosa's top bins free kick took home the crown for MLS NEXT Pro Goal of Matchday 26, giving the right back three Goal of the Matchday titles this season alone. The rookie's set-piece beauty bested scores from Atlanta United 2's Jackson Conway, LAFC2's Christopher Jamie and Houston Dynamo 2's Diego Gonzalez in a poll on X to take the title.
Rosa's goal gives him four on the season as he has played a major role in helping Sporting KC II clinch a spot in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
A University of Pittsburgh alumnus, Rosa is in his first season with SKC II and has staked his claim to the right side of the back four. The 26-year-old leads the team in minutes (2073), appearances (26) and starts (22). Both his four goals and four assists are the most among SKC II defenders and rank fourth and third, respectively, across all MLS NEXT Pro defenders.
Three of the Brazilian's four tallies have now earned Goal of the Matchday honors. His first came on Matchday four in the form of a long-range volley in a 4-0 win at Real Monarchs. Exactly 20 matches later on Matchday 24, his one-touch rocket at Austin FC II won the award and helped propel SKC II to a 2-1 road victory in Texas.
Rosa and Sporting KC II will be back on the road on Sunday when the face MNUFC2 at National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota. The match will kick off at 5 p.m. CT and can be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
