St. 不良研究所导航网址 City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and genial co-host Beth O鈥橫alley talk about how different the end of the 2024 season is from 2023 for City SC. In its first season, City SC faded at the finish line while this season, it鈥檚 going out on a high. (But, unlike Season 1, won鈥檛 be in th…
Brendan McSorley and Mykhi Joyner scored the goals for St. 不良研究所导航网址 City2 in its come-from-behind 2-1 win over Los Angeles FC 2 in the first round of the MLS Next Pro playoffs on Sunday, and both of them agreed the credit for their goals go to the teammates who made the passes.
For McSorley, it was a cross from Gabriel Mikina, who tight-roped the ball along the sideline to get behind the LAFC 2 defense and put a perfect cross in. For Joyner, who scored winner three minutes into second half stoppage time, it was Caden Glover who delivered the ball in a perfect spot for Joyner to put it in.
鈥淚 think as much glory or fame that me and McSorley got for those goals,鈥 Joyner said, 鈥淚 think it also goes to Caden and Gaby. Credit goes to them as well. Without them, the chance wouldn鈥檛 have been created. A lot of props goes to those two.鈥
鈥淚 think that's the team at the end of the day,鈥 McSorley said. 鈥淭his is probably the closest team I've been on in my career so far. No individual is above anyone else, and we all keep each other on the same level, which is, I think, really important in the team.鈥
City2 advances to the Western Conference semifinals and will find out Tuesday who it plays. MLS Next Pro uses a system in which the higher-rated teams get to pick who they want to play in each round. (City2 is the No. 2 seed in the West.) The draft for the next round will be held Tuesday.
City2 fell behind in the 18th minute and then battled for a long time to get even before McSorley scored in the 63rd minute. Half an hour later, with the match on the brink of going to overtime, Joyner won it. The two were 1-2 on the team in the regular season in goals, Joyner with 16, McSorley with nine.
鈥淵ou don't know what you don't know,鈥 City2 coach Bobby Murphy said. 鈥淎nd I think for a lot of young people who haven't been in a moment like this, like playoffs are different. As much as you want to say, I got this, it鈥檚 a different atmosphere, and the consequences are much more severe for every little thing. And so we came in at the half and everybody was calm, and we just kind of all agreed that we weren't great in the first half. And let's all just try and up it 10, 15 percent. It was just a matter of sort of getting through that.鈥
The goal capped an impressive stretch for Joyner, who was with the U.S. national under-19 team last week for a training camp in Spain and scored a goal in an exhibition match with Japan. He got back to St. 不良研究所导航网址 on Wednesday and hadn鈥檛 really done much running until Sunday.
Joyner has been able to fill two of his goals this year: sign a Homegrown contract with City SC and represent the United States.
鈥淚t was super fun,鈥 he said. 鈥淰ery great experience. Got to meet a lot of new players, players that were very talented. I got to learn from them even though they're my age. But it was honestly an honor to be able to go play in Spain and to represent the USA.鈥
Photos: City2 takes on LAFC2 in MLS Next Pro playoff game at CityPark
St. 不良研究所导航网址 City SC beat writer Tom Timmermann and genial co-host Beth O鈥橫alley talk about how different the end of the 2024 season is from 2023…
St. 不良研究所导航网址 City2 attacker MyKhi Joyner runs down LAFC2 midfielder Christopher Jaime on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in the first half of an MLS Next Pro playoff match at CityPark in St. 不良研究所导航网址.