Red Bulls II Ready for MLS NEXT Pro Final Versus Colorado Rapids 2
On Saturday, New York Red Bulls II will host Colorado Rapids 2 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
Despite being the reserve team of the Major League Soccer side, a win this weekend will earn the baby bulls their second-ever league championship.
Former U.S. Men’s National Team captain and NYRB II head coach Michael Bradley, who took the role mid-season, has told his players that this Saturday is the culmination of everything they’ve done.
“You do this to have the big moments, to play in big games, to compete, when the lights come on brightest, and so the opportunity to play in a final in a great stadium with a lot of people there,” Bradley told the media during a pre-match press conference.
“That’s why you play. That is the best thing that there is.”
This will be both clubs’ first matchup against one another ever. It’s also each team’s first appearance in the MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
English broadcast of the final will air for free on Apple TV. A Spanish broadcast will be available for free on MLSNEXTPro.com. Additionally, the final will also be available on New York Red Bulls Radio on the New York Red Bulls app and NewYorkRedBulls.com. Regular commentator Matt Harmon will take the reins on that.
A Chance for a Trophy
Red Bulls II has been an offensive power in the MLS Next Pro Playoffs. The team’s run to the Eastern Conference title saw them outscore opponents 12 to 5. The 12 goals are the second-most goals scored in a single MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs campaign, trailing only North Texas SC, which scored 13 in 2024.
The team started with a dominating display over Carolina Core FC, 5-1, in the Round of 16. A thriller in the conference semifinals followed. NYRB II played a valiant Chicago Fire II and needed extra time for the 5-3 win. Finally, the conference was won last weekend with a 2-1 win over Union II.
NYRB II defender Matthew Dos Santos explained that each game has been a chance for the team to learn.
“I’d say throughout the whole playoffs, the group’s had a lot of ups and downs,” Dos Santos said.
“Starting with a strong five-one win at home, and then having that tough game for Chicago was very important for us, because then when we went down versus Philly, we knew what to do, and we were ready for the challenge. So it’s just learning about the group and how we dealt with that situation was great.”
According to midfielder Nehuen Benedetti, this is a team with chemistry—one that is playing the right type of soccer at the right time.
“We have (chemistry) not only in the midfield but throughout the whole team as well,” Benedetti said.
“It’s a bit like what the coach works on during the week, putting intensity into every play we make, moving the ball quickly when he says we should be fluid, coordinating our movements. That’s what we try to do game by game: to stay connected. Luckily, it’s been working out well for us. We’re moving well, and that impacts the team because we’re flowing together.”
NYRB II are no strangers to championships. This will be Red Bulls II’s second-ever championship match, though the first since joining MLSNP in 2023.
When Red Bulls II was founded in 2015, it originally played in the third-division United Soccer League. In its second season under head coach and former RBNY midfielder John Wolyniec, the team won both the regular-season shield and the USL Cup. That run to the final ended with a 5-1 win over Swope Park Rangers (now Sporting Kansas City II) at Red Bull Arena on October 23, 2016.
Roald Mitchell Wins The Conference
The number one-seeded New York was crowned champions of the Eastern Conference last weekend on November 1. A come-from-behind win in Harrison against the second-seeded Philadelphia Union II earned NYRB II its first-ever piece of MLSNP hardware.
Despite falling behind 1-0 leading into halftime, the side bounced back in the second half as forward Roald Mitchell netted his first career postseason brace thanks to assists from defender Matthew Dos Santos and midfielder Adri Mehmeti.
The Union looked better in the first half. Neil Pierre nearly scored on Philadelphia’s second corner of the match. The ball hit the crossbar and was cleared away to keep it level. Philly’s Stas Korzeniowski found the goal in the 38th minute.
Some technical dribbling into the box by Eddy Davis set up Korzeniowski for the goal.
“We came in at halftime, and we showed two clips from the first half and just kind of reminded guys to calm down a little bit,” Bradley told his team at halftime of that game.
“(Philadelphia is) a team that that presses and we know that they’re going to come and try to make the game hard, but we can still shift ourselves down a little bit and find ways to even in a fast game play our football, take the right touch, make the right pass play in tight spaces a little quicker, little more confidence.”
In the second half, both teams had attacking chances in the first 25 minutes. New York leveled the score in the 71st minute. Midfielder Adri Mehmeti played a wide through ball to defender Matthew Dos Santos, who struck a one-time left-footed cross into the box that was brought down by forward Roald Mitchell and laced into the back of the net.
Mitchell scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute to notch his brace. Mehmeti floated a one-time right-footed through ball to Mitchell, who took a touch and curled a shot into the top right corner of the net.
Final in Harrison
This will be New York’s third game in Harrison this season. The first was a late win over New York City FC II in the early regular season.
A win on Saturday could mark the fifth trophy won by the organization on home soil. The first team won both the 2013 and 2018 Supporters’ Shields with wins at home on Decision Day. In 2014, Red Bulls Under-23 won the National Premier Soccer League championship by beating Chattanooga FC at Red Bull Arena. And as mentioned above, Red Bulls II has already won a league title in Harrison.
Now, Red Bulls II will try to win its first league title since joining MLSNP three years ago on the biggest stage it can.
“Extremely excited, of course. This is what we’ve worked for all season, and to finally be here is really exciting,” Midfielder Nate Worth said of the game.
“And you can tell just in the locker room that all the boys are ready. And, we all have our family, our friends come to the game, so it gives us extra motivation to really perform and get some silverware.”
Head coach Michael Bradley doubled down on that sentiment, saying the chance to play at the stadium is a huge honor for his group.
“For me, it’s one of the absolute best stadiums in the country. A bunch of us were talking this week. I mean, obviously, we had a great crowd against Philadelphia. It was by no means full, or necessarily close to full, but the few 1000 people that came into that stadium and this stadium itself. When we scored, the noise and the atmosphere were incredible. And everybody, the players, everybody inside the club, felt that,” Bradley said.
“To be able to play a part in Sports Illustrated Stadium. That part is special.”
Fans looking to attend the match in person should have no issue, considering the stadium is only selling one half of the lower bowl and North End seats.
Expect the South Ward to be full of Supporters Group members.
New York Red Bulls Season Ticket Members are able to reserve tickets at no cost through their Ticketmaster Account Manager.
Other fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster and the RBNY website.
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