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RBNY II Claim MLS NEXT Pro Championship in Dramatic Penalty Shootout

Mario Casamalhuapa
4 min read
Head coach Michael Bradley captured the title in his first professional head coaching role, just five months after being appointed in June 2025 following a season as assistant coach at Norwegian side Stabæk. New York Red Bulls II won their first MLS NEXT Pro championship, defeating Colorado Rapids 2 3-1 on penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Rafael Mosquera earned Cup MVP honors with a two-goal performance, including the 81st-minute penalty that forced extra time after Colorado had taken a 3-2 lead. RBNY II dominated statistically with 32 shots to Colorado's 13, 88.1% passing accuracy compared to 67.2%, and 835 total passes, demonstrating complete control despite the tight scoreline. Roald Mitchell's brace in a 13-minute second-half span erased Colorado's 2-0 halftime lead and shifted momentum decisively toward the eventual champions. The championship validates the Red Bulls organization's player development model and positions Bradley as a rising coaching talent from American soccer's most prominent coaching lineage.
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HARRISON, N.J. – New York Red Bulls II are MLS NEXT Pro champions after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Colorado Rapids 2 on Saturday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The 3-1 shootout triumph, following a pulsating 3-3 draw through 120 minutes, delivered the franchise's first MLS NEXT Pro championship.

Colorado Rapids 2 seized control in the opening half, building a commanding 2-0 lead that threatened to silence the home crowd. Mamadou Billo Diop opened the scoring in the 34th minute, capitalizing on precise service from Steve Flores to finish from close range. The visitors doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time when James Cameron converted Alex Harris's assist, sending Rapids 2 into the break firmly in control.

RBNY II emerged from halftime transformed. The hosts produced a stunning 13-minute blitz that erased the deficit and swung momentum completely. Rafael Mosquera sparked the comeback in the 65th minute, finishing Nate Worth's assist to cut the deficit in half. Just two minutes later, Roald Mitchell leveled the contest at 2-2, converting a pass from Nehuén Benedetti to bring Sports Illustrated Stadium to life.

Colorado refused to surrender their championship dreams. Substitute Antony García, who had entered the match in the 77th minute, made an immediate impact just one minute later. The midfielder collected Wayne Frederick's pass and unleashed a magnificent strike from distance that found the bottom left corner, restoring Rapids 2's lead at 3-2 in the 78th minute.

The lead lasted just three minutes. RBNY II earned a penalty in the 81st minute, and Mosquera stepped forward to convert the spot kick and complete his brace. The goal forced extra time and earned Mosquera the Cup MVP award for his match-saving performance.

The additional 30 minutes produced multiple chances but no goals, sending the championship to a penalty shootout. RBNY II demonstrated championship composure from the spot. Nate Worth converted the opening penalty, followed by successful attempts from Mijahir Jiménez and Andy Rojas. Colorado's hopes faded when both Mamadou Billo Diop and Alex Harris failed to convert, while Antony García's successful penalty proved insufficient.

The statistical dominance reflected RBNY II's control throughout the match. The champions recorded 32 shots compared to Colorado's 13, with 10 shots on target to Rapids 2's seven. RBNY II completed a remarkable 835 passes at 88.1% accuracy, dwarfing Colorado's 308 passes at 67.2%. The hosts also earned nine corners to Colorado's three and recorded 14 crosses compared to the visitors' six.

The championship represents a remarkable achievement for head coach Michael Bradley in his debut season. Bradley was appointed head coach on June 12, 2025, according to the club's official announcement, taking over a first-place team mid-season after working as an assistant coach on his father Bob Bradley's staff at Norwegian side Stabæk from October 24, 2023, through September 2024. The RBNY II position marks Bradley's first professional head coaching role.

Bradley's coaching pedigree runs deep in American soccer. His father, Bob Bradley, served as U.S. Men's National Team coach from 2006-2011 and has won three MLS Coach of the Year awards. Bob Bradley worked as an assistant under Bruce Arena at the University of Virginia and D.C. United before launching his own successful head coaching career. The Bradley-Arena coaching tree has produced numerous successful coaches across American soccer.

As a player, Michael Bradley earned 151 caps for the United States, captaining the national team 44 times. He played professionally for 20 seasons, including stints at AS Roma in Serie A and Toronto FC in MLS, where he captained the team to the 2017 MLS Cup championship.

For RBNY II, the championship validates a season of excellence and provides a foundation for continued success under Bradley's leadership. The combination of tactical discipline, offensive creativity, and championship composure proved decisive in claiming the franchise's first MLS NEXT Pro title.

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