Matchups and schedule set for 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Conference Finals
NEW YORK – MLS NEXT Pro announced the schedule for the Conference Finals following another round of thrilling action in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
After advancing out of the Conference Semifinals this weekend, No. 2 Philadelphia Union II will host No. 7 Columbus Crew 2 in the Eastern Conference Final and No. 1 overall North Texas SC will host No. 2 St Louis CITY2 in the Western Conference Final. Both matches will be played Saturday, November 2 and will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Union II, Crew 2 and CITY2 are three of only five teams in MLS NEXT Pro to participate in the Playoffs every season since the League launched in 2022. Columbus is the only Club in the League to advance to the Conference Finals every year. Crew 2 has also appeared in both MLS NEXT Pro Cups thus far, capturing the inaugural League championship in 2022 and finishing runner-up to champion Austin FC II in 2023. Philadelphia and North Texas will make their Conference Final debuts in 2024, while this year marks St Louis’ return to the West Finals. CITY2 previously competed in the 2022 Conference Finals before advancing to MLS NEXT Pro Cup, eventually falling to Crew 2.
The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Conference Finals schedule follows (both matches on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV):
Eastern Conference: No. 2 Philadelphia Union II vs. No. 7 Columbus Crew 2: Saturday, November 2 (Time TBD) – Subaru Park
Western Conference: No. 1 North Texas SC vs. No. 2 St Louis CITY2: Saturday, November 2 (Time TBD) – Choctaw Stadium
The winners of the Conference Finals will advance to MLS NEXT Pro Cup the weekend of
November 8, with the Club with the highest regular season points total hosting.
Conference Semifinal Results
No. 2 Philadelphia Union II kicked off the Semifinal action Saturday night, welcoming No. 8 Crown Legacy FC, who entered the match after upsetting No. 1 FC Cincinnati 2 in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The higher-seeded hosts struck first, as Olwethu Makhanya (PHI) scored off a corner kick to give Union II a 1-0 lead. Crown Legacy FC searched for a route back into the match and found one late through Dylan Sing’s (CLFC) 89th minute equalizer. With the score tied 1-1 after regulation and 30 minutes of extra time, the ensuing penalty shootout saw Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick produce two clutch saves and CJ Olney (PHI) score the final penalty of the evening to seal a victory for Philadelphia Union II.
Philadelphia will face No. 7 Columbus after the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Cup Champions Crew 2 pulled off its second-consecutive upset in the 2024 Playoffs on Sunday. After defeating No. 3 Inter Miami II in the Conference Quarterfinals, Crew 2 traveled to No. 4 Chicago Fire FC II for their Conference Semifinal match. Goals from Gibran Rayo, Jayden Da and Xavier Zengue (CLB) gave visiting Columbus a 3-2 win in a back-and-forth match.
In the first Western Conference Semifinal of the weekend, on Saturday No. 1 overall North Texas SC hosted their chosen opponent, No. 4 Tacoma Defiance. The visitors were first off the mark, as Chris Aquino (TAC) struck in the 18th minute. North Texas SC was undeterred and replied two minutes later with Pedrinho’s (NTX) goal. Logan Farrington, Carl Sainté and Anthony Ramirez (NTX) all added second-half goals to secure a 4-1 victory for the League leaders.
The weekend’s final game was another closely contested match, as No. 2 St Louis CITY2 hosted No. 3 The Town FC in a rematch of the 2023 Conference Quarterfinals, when The Town (Earthquakes II) emerged victorious. This time, St Louis CITY2 got the better of its rival. Brendan McSorley (STL) opened the scoring for the hosts in the 7th minute, before The Town FC equalized through Jamar Ricketts’ (TTFC) strike in the 29th minute. The second half saw each side score again; Riley Lynch (TTFC) gave the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 67th minute, but a quick response from St Louis came minutes later as Gabriel Mikina (STL) found an equalizing goal in the 73rd minute.
With the score tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation, it was Mykhi Joyner (STL) who broke the deadlock in extra time, scoring on a sensational effort in the 103rd minute and adding another in the 123rd minute. Joyner, who finished as runner-up for the 2024 Golden Boot Award (16 goals), brings his postseason tally to three goals in two matches with his brace against The Town FC.
