St. Louis City2 used a literally last-second goal by Mykhi Joyner to tie the game 1-1 and then won a penalty kick shootout 4-2 against Los Angeles FC 2 to get the two points it needed at Energizer Park on Sunday to clinch finishing the regular season with the best record in MLS Next Pro.
The result means that as long as City2 is alive in the Next Pro playoffs, it will be at Energizer Park. The City2 regular season finishes next weekend and then after a week off, begins four rounds of single-elimination playoffs.
Joyner, who played 25 minutes for City SC on Saturday night, came back and played the final 32 minutes for City2 on Sunday. He was fouled in the box by LAFC’s Ryan Raposo as he went to goal in the 95th minute, the last minute of second-half stoppage time, and then converted the kick to even the score. The game was whistled over before the ensuing kickoff.
“We’ve done that a couple times so far where we’re down late and we still find a way to get back,” said interim City2 coach John Hackworth. “It’s just a team that believes and a team that keeps fighting, and nothing says that more than today.
“And it meant something. It’s for (first overall), and most importantly, we secured the final here. We have to make it there, but if we do what we’re supposed to … we could have four really good days in this building, like the crowd that we had today.”
“It’s huge,” said Joyner, who has 15 goals in Next Pro, the fourth-most in the league even though he’s played with the first team for the last month. “It’s a lot for this club. A lot of thanks goes to Coach Hack and all the coaching staff as well. They work us super hard every day, even if some players aren’t there.”
The result moved City2’s unbeaten streak to 18 games, going back to May 11.
In the shootout, Gabriel Mikina, Caden Glover, Joyner and Emil Jaaskelainen scored for City2. LAFC 2’s third shooter hit the crossbar and goalkeeper Christian Olivares made a save in the fourth round to end it.
Joyner had also figured in LAFC’s goal. He was chasing after a long pass and was side by side with LAFC’s Christian Diaz and went down, but the referee called a foul on Joyner. LAFC quickly restarted the play, went the length of the field and scored in the 63rd minute, creating the need for another City2 comeback.
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Tom Timmermann | Post-Dispatch
Soccer reporter
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