HARRISON, N.J. (November 13, 2025) – New York Red Bulls II’s historic 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs campaign was one to remember. Whether it was the historic scoring numbers or comeback victories, the side never blinked and brought entertaining soccer to fans.
Things all started in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on October 19 at MSU Soccer Park. New York stayed traditional and picked number eight seeded Carolina Core FC as their first opponent.
Red Bulls II took control of the match from the very first minutes with a third minute penalty kick goal from midfielder Rafael Mosquera. New York went on to score four more unanswered goals in the 34th, 47th, 48th, and 80th minutes to secure a 5-1 victory. Mosquera and midfielder Nehuen Benedetti scored braces in the match, while forward Roald Mitchell added a goal.
Benedetti discussed his performance post-match “Well I am happy for that because I helped the team score twice. But yes, it is all of the group, a team effort.”
Moving on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, New York picked the lowest remaining seed Chicago Fire FC II as their opponent for a home match back at MSU Soccer Park on October 26.
This match was a back and forward scoring affair with Fire FC II finding equalizers to each of Red Bulls II’s first three goals. Red Bulls II had goals come from three different players with midfielder Andy Rojas, defender Jair Collahuazo and Mitchell finding the back of the net.
The match was level at three after ninety minutes and went on to extra time. The first half of the extra period was status quo, but in the 2nd half New York’s attack exploded. Rojas completed his brace on a one time right footed shot off a Benedetti pass in the 1111th minute. Forward Mijahir Jimenez provided an insurance goal in the second minute of extra time stoppage time to secure New York a 5-3 victory and a ticket to the Eastern Conference Final.
Head Coach Michael Bradley explained the performance of Rojas:
“It's a huge game for Andy. I mean in terms of just the goals, but the reactions backwards, the sprinting, the intensity, and that’s amazing to see because Andy has talent. He has football ability. He can do things that not everybody can, but in certain moments this year now we've challenged him to do even more, to have more of an impact, to take his good qualities, and make them count for more, to also then when you get to the big moments, be ready to push. And so that part for him tonight made a big difference.”
The stakes got higher for the Eastern Conference Final. New York faced off against familiar foe Philadelphia Union II. Going into the match, Philadelphia owned the all-time MLS NEXT Pro series advantage with a 4-2-2 record, however Red Bulls II were unbeaten in their last two matches against the side.
New York hosted Philadelphia at Sports Illustrated Stadium in front of 2,000 fans on November 1 with a trip to 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup on the line.
Union II struck first in the 38th minute off a cross into the box, leaving Red Bulls II down 1-0 at halftime. The side remained down in the first 25 minutes of the second half, but it all changed in the 71st minute. Midfielder Adri Mehmeti looped a wide through ball to defender Matthew Dos Santos who played a one time left footed cross to Mitchell who brought the ball down and struck a left footed shot into the top right corner of the net. Mitchell found the match winning goal in the 83rd minute when Mehmeti played a one-time through ball from to Mitchell who laced a right footed shot into the top right corner of the net to secure Red Bulls II a 2-1 victory and clinch the side’s first MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs Eastern Conference Title.
Mitchell had the following to say about the match:
“It was a high stakes game. I mean those two goals really meant a lot. We came down from 1-0. So going into the second half, we just turned up the next gear. So, I mean those two goals, very special. Just playing to the best of my strengths.”
It all came down to the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup against Colorado Rapids 2 on November 8 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in front of an MLS NEXT Pro Cup record 9,095 fans in attendance. This was New York’s first MLS NEXT Pro Cup appearance in its three seasons in the league and was the club’s first appearance in a final since the 2016 USL Cup Championship where they secured a 5-1 victory at home against Swope Park Rangers.
Colorado capitalized on their opportunities in the first half and carried a 2-0 advantage at halftime. However, New York didn’t bat an eye and scored back-to-back goals in the 65th and 67th minutes from Mosquera and Mitchell to level the match. Rapids 2 retook the lead in the 78th minute, but Red Bulls II responded in the 81st minute. Midfielder Nate Worth drew a foul in the box to give New York a penalty kick. Mosquera converted his attempt into the top right corner to level the match 3-3.
The game went on to extra time where both sides were held scoreless. The match advanced to a penalty kick shootout with Worth, Jimenez, and Rojas converting their attempts. Colorado missed their first two attempts, with one hitting the post and another skied over the crossbar.
The deciding moment came in the fourth round of the shootout when goalkeeper Austin Causey dove right and saved a Rapids 2 attempt to clinch Red Bulls II the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup title.
For his two-goal performance Mosquera was named MLS NEXT Pro Cup MVP, becoming the youngest player to earn the honor at 20 years and 168 days old. He is also the first player to record a brace in MLS NEXT Pro Cup and joins Brandon Allen as only players in club history to score multiple goals in final.
Causey had the following to say about the penalty kick shootout:
“It was mostly trying to get in their head as much as I could. I think in that moment, I said I need you to just put your head down, focus on your kick, bury it, and I just need one save. The first one was great. Hit off the post. It hit off my head. So I guess I'll count that as a save. Then I saved the last shot. Just disbelief, seeing the lights change colors, everybody starts running at you, and I didn't really know where to run, so I just ran to the closest corner. It was truly a great feeling. It's a really great feeling.”
Mehmeti became the youngest captain to lead their team to a professional title in soccer history at 16 years and 216 days old.
After the match, the midfielder explained the feeling of lifting the trophy as captain:
“It's crazy feelings, a lot of emotions. A big moment for me and for Ibra (Sekagya) and Michael (Bradley) to have the trust in me, to make me captain at 16-year-old, at such a young age, it's a big responsibility, and I think I've handled it very well, and that's going to give me a lot of experience going forward.”
Bradley secured his first title as a head coach and is the first coach in club history to win a title in their first season. He described the feeling of winning MLS NEXT Pro Cup as the following:
“As a coach, It’s your players and your staff and your support staff. It is the part of feeling that there is a sense of ownership, a sense of belonging, and that part, that's the beauty of a team sport. It’s the beauty of football. And looking in, if you’re not into sports, it’s the part of doing things with people you care about and trying to do something really special together. And that part makes everything more fun. As a young coach, having the opportunity to come in inside a club like this, and coach a group of players and work with them every day and challenge them and try to help them. You try to take them individually and collectively to the next level. In the end, when you get a big reward and you get to share a night like this together, that goes up there with any moment in my career.”
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Mitchell was the star of New York’s playoff run, scoring five goals that are the most ever scored in a single MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs campaign. His goal tally is also the second-most career goals scored in a postseason behind Brandon Allen’s six. The Montclair, N.J. native scored at least one goal in each match. The forward was clutch throughout the playoffs with three of his goals giving Red Bulls II a lead.
Mosquera was a massive producer on the offensive end during the postseason with four goals and two assists. His six goal contributions were tied with Colorado’s Alex Harris for most goal contributions in singular MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs run. His four-career postseason assist are the tied with Vincent Bezecourt for the most in club history.
As a team, New York had history making offensive production during the playoff scoring an all-time club and MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs high 15 goals. These goals came from six different players with four players in Benedetti, Mosquera, Rojas and Mitchell scoring at least two. This is the most different goal scorers in a singular MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs run and most in club postseason history.
The team also had 14 team assists, with midfield duo of Worth and Mehmeti each distributing three apiece
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