MLS NextPro Match Recap: Columbus Crew 2 defeats Orlando City B by score of 2-1

Photo by Joel Speyer

The Columbus Crew 2 won their Eastern Conference quarterfinal match against Orlando City B by a score of 2-1 Sunday at Historic Crew Stadium. With the win, the Crew 2 takes the first step in defending their 2022 MLS NextPro title. Their opponent in the conference semifinals is yet to be determined, but the Crew 2 will be traveling for the next match.

The Crew 2 captured the 2022 MLS NextPro championship behind the strength of four players who are logging minutes with the Columbus Crew first team: Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte; defender Mohamed Farsi; midfielder Sean Zawadzki; and forward Jacen Russell-Rowe. Schulte is the starting goalkeeper, the other three are regular substitutes.

This year’s Crew 2 squad is led by defender Philip Quinton, attacker Noah Fuson, attacking midfielder Marco Micaletto, and goalkeeper Stanislav Lapkes. The Capybara’s coach is Laurent Courtois who has worked with the Columbus Crew organization since 2019. Courtois is a development-minded coach who led the organization’s U-17 and U-19 teams prior to leading the Crew 2 when MLS NextPro was formed.

MLS NextPro is a semi-amateur developmental league created in 2022 to identify talented players with the potential to compete at the MLS and international level. The league creation coincides with a run-up to the 2026 World Cup in North America. MLS NextPro rosters are a combination of 11 local amateur players and 24 players under a professional contract. Quinton has a contract with the Columbus Crew and started the season with the first team before being added back to the Crew 2 roster in June.

The Crew 2 opened the scoring in the first half in the 33rd minute. Gibran Rayo’s right-footed penalty kick was initially stopped by the goalkeeper, but the deflection was gathered up by Rayo who scored with a left-footed shot.

Orlando City B equalized a few minutes later and the teams went into halftime deadlocked at 1-1. The second half was scoreless until Micaletto converted a penalty in the 90th minute. After the penalty was awarded, a skirmish broke out on the field. A member of each team was given a red card; the Crew 2 will be without Rayo in the conference semifinal match due to the ejection. Orlando City B received another red card during second half stoppage time to finish the match with nine players on the pitch. 

Team Captain Micaletto buried the penalty shot in the bottom right and the celebration was on. The team jumped a barrier and celebrated with Nordecke fans in the northeast corner who came out in numbers to cheer on the Capys and make noise. It was evident from the team’s celebration after converting the penalty kick that support from the Nordecke fans was greatly appreciated by the Crew 2 players.