Another week, another round of dramatic performances making for tough choices in the weekly awards department. With several standouts to choose from in MLS NEXT Pro Matchweek 8, it's time to show off the winners.
Chicago Fire FC II showed their grit with a hearty 5-1 win over Orlando City B despite an early deficit. Those heroics are good for their first Team of the Matchweek honor of 2025.
Over 12,000 strong filed into Energizer Park on Sunday for St Louis CITY2's match against Houston Dynamo 2, and striker Emil Jääskeläinen gave them a name to remember as he got a part of all three goals in their 3-1 win, earning his first Player of the Matchweek honor.
FC Dallas Academy midfielder Landon Hickam provided a golazo of a match-winner for North Texas SC in a 1-0 win over MNUFC2 on the road, earning him this week's Rising Star of the Matchweek nod.
Read more about Mathcweek 8's winners below.
MLS NEXT Pro Team of Matchweek 8: Chicago Fire FC II
Orlando City B opened the scoring in Friday’s match, and Fire II didn’t take too kindly to it at all.
The response? A five-goal outburst. The most they’ve scored since April 14, 2024.
The 'keeper took center stage, though. Fire Academy's Patrick Los made three crucial saves, none bigger than stopping 2025 Golden Boot frontrunner Shak Mohammed's penalty attempt to keep the match level at halftime.
The win snaps a three-game losing skid and can serve as a turning point if Fire II is to march back to the postseason in 2025.
MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchweek 8: Emil Jääskeläinen
A natural entertainer? Jääskeläinen put on a show for the 12,000-plus at Energizer Park on Sunday.
His goal and pair of assists led St Louis CITY2 to a much-needed 3-1 win over Houston Dynamo 2, helping them get back in the win column for the first time since March.
The 24-year-old striker opened the scoring with a crafty toe-poke shot in the 14th minute and ensured victory by playmaking for Brendan McSorely and Miguel Perez to close things out.
Jääskeläinen signed with CITY2 as a 2025 MLS SuperDraft selection from Akron. He was dominant for the Zips in 2024, leading the NCAA with 23 goals, 54 points, and six game-winning goals. He also earned a call-up to the St. Louis CITY first team in April.
Fun fact: He is the son of longtime English Premier League and Finland goalkeeper Jussi Jääskeläinen.
MLS NEXT Rising Star of Matchweek 8: Landon Hickam
Take a bow, mister Hickam.
The FC Dallas Academy midfielder looked like a seasoned vet when he broke the deadlock in the eighth minute against MNUFC2, leading the way to North Texas SC’s fourth win of the season. It also handed their Western Conference foe their first loss of the year.
Hickam, 17, now has a goal to go along with his seven appearances for NTSC this season.
He also represents the second player from the club to earn the Rising Star of the Matchweek honor this year, joining defender Ian Charles in Matchweek 5.
