We’re on the home stretch of the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season, with teams battling for the final playoff spots while those already qualified fight to secure home-field advantage - and with that comes some inspired performances.
Philadelphia Union II provided a strong outing against one of the top teams in the East to claim the Team of Matchweek 28 honor.
The Town FC’s Nonso Adimabua scored a brace en route to leading his side to a dominant 4-0 road win.
Lastly, FC Cincinnati 2 academy defender Will Kuisel scored his first professional goal to earn the MLS NEXT Rising Star award.
Let’s take a look at all the winners:
MLS NEXT Pro Team of Matchweek 28: Philadelphia Union II
Philadelphia Union II earned Team of Matchweek 28 with their commanding 5-2 win over Chicago Fire II last Sunday.
Led by Stas Korzeniowski, who scored his first professional brace during the match, Union II delivered a complete performance in front of their home crowd.
Korzeniowski struck in the 15th and 66th minutes, while Sal Olivas and Cavan Sullivan added their own goals before Malik Jakupovic came off the bench to notch his team-leading eighth of the season.
Goalkeeper George Marks also had a solid outing despite the two goals scored by Fire II, notching 10 saves and denying a penalty kick.
The victory moved Union II within three points of Eastern Conference leaders New York Red Bulls II, who fell in a shootout to Inter Miami II earlier in the day. With two games left, Union II could still claim the number one seed if results go their way.
MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 28: Nonso Adimabua, The Town FC
After falling on the road last week, The Town FC needed a spirited performance to get back to their winning ways and keep momentum rolling into the final stretch of the season. Their leading scorer, Nonso Adimabua, made sure of it.
Adimabua scored his third brace of the year, knocking in goals in the 17th and 45th minutes, and found the net for a third straight match to earn the MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 28 award.
His season total now sits at 14 goals, surpassing the previous The Town FC/Earthquakes II record of 12 set by Eduardo Blancas (2023) and Rudi Castro (2022).
With three games left, TTFC will now look to close the regular season strong during a three-match homestand, aiming to carry their undefeated home form into the playoffs.
MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchweek 28: Will Kuisel, FC Cincinnati 2
FC Cincinnati 2 needed a spark in their playoff push, and Academy defender William Kuisel stepped up to deliver it.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime to New England Revolution II, FCC 2 flipped the script in the second half with three unanswered goals to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Center back Gilberto Flores leveled the score with a header, and minutes later, Kuisel buried a rebound in the box to score his first professional goal.
Stefan Chirila finished things off in stoppage time to seal a critical 3-1 victory for the Orange and Blue.
The 17-year-old Kuisel, who has been part of the squad since 2024, has made 20 pro appearances with 12 starts, and was able to make his biggest impact yet on Sunday.
