Clinical North Texas SC Punishes MNUFC2 With Early Goals and Maintains Dominance at Choctaw Stadium

North Texas SC showcased their attacking prowess and home-field dominance once again with a decisive 3-1 victory over MNUFC2 on Thursday night in Arlington. By striking early in both halves, the hosts ensured the visitors were always chasing the game — a deficit the Twos never truly looked capable of overcoming.

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A Nightmare Start for Minnesota

From the opening whistle, North Texas set the tone. In just the second minute, forward Sam Sarver broke through MNUFC2’s defensive shape, squaring a simple pass to Tarik Scott, who tapped home the opener. The goal — clocked at one minute and nineteen seconds — entered the club’s record books as its fastest ever in MLS NEXT Pro play, underlining the urgency and directness that would define the hosts’ night.

The early breakthrough rattled MNUFC2, who struggled to regain composure. Though goalkeeper Kayne Rizvanovich made a superb fingertip save in the 12th minute to deny Daniel Baran, the defensive lapses persisted. The visitors generated moments of promise on the counter — notably through Logan Dorsey’s ventures forward — but a combination of imprecise finishing and stout defending by North Texas kept them scoreless.

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A Familiar Script After Halftime

Any hope for a second-half turnaround evaporated almost immediately. Barely seconds into the restart, Sarver turned from provider to finisher. A well-timed cross found him at close range, and his deft deflection doubled the lead. The goal marked Sarver’s 10th of the season — the quickest any North Texas player has reached double digits in an MLS NEXT Pro campaign, cementing his place near the top of the league’s Golden Boot race.

Moments later, the connection between Sarver and Scott punished Minnesota again. A long ball over the top caught the Twos’ backline flat-footed; Sarver’s quick cutback set up Scott, who slid in for his second of the night and a commanding 3-0 advantage.

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Individual Bright Spots and Costly Indiscipline

Despite the mounting deficit, MNUFC2 continued to push for a lifeline. Minneapolis native Muba Nour delivered a moment of pride for the traveling side in the 86th minute. Pouncing on a spilled save by JT Harms, Nour tapped in his first goal for the club — a bright milestone in an otherwise disappointing night.

But any faint chance of a late rally was quashed by a pair of dismissals. Curt Calov, already on a caution, was shown a second yellow in the 73rd minute for a reckless challenge, leaving his side a man down. Then, deep into stoppage time, Britton Fischer saw red for a dangerous tackle, forcing the Twos to finish the game with nine players — a symbolic end to a night defined by missed opportunities and moments of ill-discipline.

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North Texas SC’s Enduring Home Dominance

The result extended a remarkable trend for North Texas: they remain unbeaten at home against MNUFC2, now boasting a perfect 6-0-0 record at Choctaw Stadium in this series. With this win, they improved their all-time mark against Minnesota’s reserves to 9-1-0, illustrating the gulf that still exists when these sides meet in Frisco.

Moreover, the match saw key players return from injury — defenders Gavin Gall and Malachi Molina — restoring depth to a squad eyeing a postseason push. Newcomers Jackson DuBois, Favour Aroyameh, and Marlon Luccin also debuted, adding fresh energy to a team that seems to be hitting its stride in July.

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MNUFC2 Left to Regroup

For Minnesota’s young side, the defeat highlighted familiar issues: defensive lapses at crucial moments, difficulty converting promising build-up play into goals, and a tendency for costly cards to compound their troubles. The loss also coincided with the injury exit of forward Logan Dorsey, whose shoulder knock may sideline him in upcoming fixtures.

The lone silver lining is the return of midfielder Kage Romanshyn Jr., who saw his first minutes of the season after recovering from February surgery — a much-needed boost to the Twos’ midfield depth.

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Looking Ahead

North Texas SC will aim to build on this momentum as they tighten their grip on a playoff spot in MLS NEXT Pro’s competitive landscape. For MNUFC2, the road doesn’t get easier: they must regroup quickly ahead of an afternoon clash with the Real Monarchs on July 13. Improving defensive discipline and capitalizing on scoring chances will be paramount if they hope to stay in contention for a postseason berth.

Key Takeaways:

• Record Fast Goal: Tarik Scott’s early strike is now the fastest in club history for MLS NEXT Pro play.
• Sarver’s Hot Streak: Sam Sarver continues to stake his claim as one of the league’s most dangerous forwards, now second in the Golden Boot race.
• Minnesota’s Fragility: Two red cards and another early goal conceded reveal persistent issues with defensive composure and discipline.
• Home Fortress: North Texas remains unbeatable at home against Minnesota, extending their series dominance and showcasing depth with returning players and debuts.

As the league enters a pivotal midseason stretch, North Texas look like a side gathering momentum at the right time, while MNUFC2 must find answers fast to stay afloat in a fiercely competitive MLS NEXT Pro campaign.