Week 12 of the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season has arrived, with the Game of the Week featuring the No. 1 Western Conference side, North Texas SC, against the No. 10 Timbers 2.
North Texas SC look to continue their stellar form as they sit atop the Western Conference with 24 points through 10 matches while T2 will look to pull the upset card and earn their inaugural MLS NEXT Pro victory.
This and every match will be available to stream live and free of charge on MLSNEXTPro.com.
MLS NEXT Pro has teamed up with automated camera technology provider Spiideo to deliver live streams of all MLS NEXT Pro matches, ensuring every game this season will be available for viewing on MLSNEXTPro.com.
The matchup is this week's MLS NEXT Pro Game of the Week, so viewers will experience a multi-camera production for this match.
Pa-Modou Kah’s side sits level on points with Columbus Crew 2, the top Eastern Conference side, but sit second overall in league standings due to criteria points. Week 12 presents an opportunity for them to make the jump to No. 1 overall while extending their Western Conference lead over No. 2 Tacoma Defiance.
North Texas SC are riding a five-match unbeaten streak, where they’ve won three straight going into this week's contest.
Playing opposite: In the past two matches, North Texas SC has scored three goals in each match while Timbers2 have conceded three in their past two.
The top team from the West will be considered heavy favorites as they host the winless Timbers2, considering their attacking and defensive form of late.
Bernard Kamungo, forward: Kamungo has scored six goals this season and leads the team in scoring.
Hope Avayevu, forward: Avayevu leads his side in assists with five but has also been clinical when needed with three goals to his name along the way.
Blaine Ferri, midfielder: A staple to the success of their midfield, Ferri has played in all 10 matches this season while sporting an 88.3 passing percentage completion rate on 403 passes this season.
T2 have struggled through the opening half of their inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season, finding themselves sitting 10th in the West and 20th overall across league standings. Through 11 weeks and nine matches played, they find themselves 0-7-2 and in search of their first win of the season still.
The side from Portland has lost five-straight matches going into week 12 and looks to bounce back by playing the upset card that could ignite a turnaround. If Shannon Murray's men can find a way to take points from North Texas SC, they unlock the ability to do the same to anyone else in the league. In one of their two draws this season, T2 claimed a point on the road but they’ve also taken the extra point in both contests by winning kicks from the spot.
It’s quite the task to take off the top team in the West, but T2 are up for the challenge as they look to turn their season around.
Blake Bodily, midfielder: Bodily leads T2 in scoring this season with three goals and boasts an 80.8 passing percentage.
Jamin Gogo Peters, midfielder: The 18-year-old has two goals this season on 13 total shots, with six on target.
Dylan Akau, defender: Akau leads T2 in minutes played this season and has started eight out of their nine matches, featuring in all nine. The defender is a leader on the backline who they’ll look to against an impressive North Texas SC attack.
