Chattanooga FC are on a heater.
Their eight-game unbeaten run was accentuated with a dominant 4-0 win against perennial Eastern Conference heavyweight Philadelphia Union II and earns their second Team of the Matchweek selection of the season.
Also a regular award winner, Atlanta United 2 striker Arif Kovac is Player of the Matchweek for the third time this season after firming his grip on the 2026 Golden Boot with a brace in ATL UTD's 3-2 win vs. NYCFC II.
In the Academy scene, an up-and-down week ended in glory for 16-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy goalkeeper Sam Rogers, whose heroics in Whitecaps FC 2's two-point road trip to St Louis CITY2 earned his first MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Matchweek nod.
Read more about Matchweek 21's winners below.
Getting hot at the right time, Chattanooga's 4-0 win over Union II extended their unbeaten run to eight.
Winger Ameziane Sid Mohand and centerback Nathan Koehler got the Boys in Blue rolling in the first half, and halftime substitute Daniel Mangarov sealed the win by assisting Damien Barker John's goal in the 47th minute and notching a goal for himself in the 75th.
Koehler's goal was a special moment, as CFC mainstay Tate Robertson played helper to mark himself as the club's all-time leader in assists.
"It was a good performance from the team all around," said interim head coach Richard Dixon. "Playing at home is always special for us, and we always want to make sure we put on a good show in front of our fans. We want to make sure we protect our home."
Chattanooga FC was also named Team of Matchweek 14.
The man can not stop scoring.
Once again, Kovac led the way for Atlanta United 2.
Opening things up in the 12th minute, he used height to his advantage when midfielder Andrew Jardines sent a ball into the box. Kovac was able to get in behind his marker and made it, somehow, look easy with a one-touch finish at point blank.
He struck again in the 66th minute when he got a loose ball in the center of the box, and had plenty of time and space to smash it in almost uncontested.
Kovac now has 15 goals to lead the Golden Boot race with nine matchweeks to go.
The 19-year-old is an Atlanta United Academy product who went professional last season when he signed with ATL UTD 2. He was also named Player of Matchweek 11 and Matchweek 19 in what's shaping up to be an all-timer of a breakout year in MLS NEXT Pro.
Shaking off a tough outing against Austin FC II earlier in the week, Whitecaps FC 2 head coach Rich Fagen couldn't have asked for a better response from his 16-year-old 'keeper.
Rogers was dealt a tough hand when a point-blank header went in for a fifth-minute deficit in St. Louis on Sunday, but rallied to post 11 saves in the response to earn his side a valuable road point.
It set the stage for a dramatic shootout, where he made his biggest stop of the night to send WFC 2 home with the extra point.
Rogers represents Canada on the international scene and was called into action to help Les Rouges U-17s in Concacaf World Cup qualifiers earlier this season.
