MLS NEXT Pro Honors: Atlanta United 2 and Pedro Cruz Lead Matchweek 7 Awards

Staff Writer
Apr 21
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

NEW YORK — As the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season heats up, the league has officially announced its honors for Matchweek 7. Highlighting a week defined by defensive masterclasses and late-game heroics, Atlanta United 2 secured its first Team of the Matchweek selection, while Houston’s Pedro Cruz and Sporting KC’s Kashan Hines took home individual honors.

Team of the Matchweek: Atlanta United 2

After a three-game winless skid, Atlanta United 2 returned to form with a clinical 3-0 victory over Chicago Fire FC II at SeatGeek Stadium.

The Five Stripes set the tempo in the 4th minute when Arif Kovac capitalized on a goalkeeping error to open the scoring. The match quickly became the Ignacio Suarez-Couri show; the midfielder provided two critical assists to Cameron Dunbar and Adrian Gill (who netted his first professional goal) to put the game out of reach.

Defensively, Atlanta was immovable, holding Chicago to just four shots on goal and securing a second consecutive clean sheet.

Player of the Matchweek: Pedro Cruz (Houston Dynamo 2)

Houston Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Pedro Cruz continues to build an MVP-caliber resume. In a narrow 1-0 win against Real Monarchs, Cruz recorded a seven-save clean sheet that Head Coach Tyler Snipes described as "as good as a hat trick."

The Brazilian shot-stopper, who was recently crowned March Goalkeeper of the Month, has yet to concede a goal from open play through five starts this season. His performance at Zions Bank Stadium included a spectacular double save in the 37th minute, keeping Houston’s unbeaten streak (5-0-1) alive and propelling "Dynamo Dos" to second in the Western Conference.

Rising Star of the Matchweek: Kashan Hines (Sporting KC II)

The Academy scene found its brightest light in 17-year-old midfielder Kashan Hines. In a chaotic 3-2 thriller against Whitecaps FC 2, Hines embodied the "instant impact" mentality required of academy prospects.

Entering as a second-half substitute, Hines scored his first professional goal in the 97th minute, securing a dramatic walk-off win for Sporting KC II. In just his eighth appearance, Hines’ late-game composure earned him the MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Matchweek honor and solidified SKC II’s reputation for come-from-behind victories.

Matchweek 7 Snapshot

Award	Winner	Club	Key Performance
Team of the Matchweek	Atlanta United 2	Atlanta United 2	3-0 Road Win vs. Chicago Fire II
Player of the Matchweek	Pedro Cruz	Houston Dynamo 2	7 Saves, Clean Sheet vs. Real Monarchs
Rising Star	Kashan Hines	Sporting KC II	90+7' Game-Winning Goal

The league returns to action this weekend, highlighted by a Western Conference showdown between Houston Dynamo 2 and Sporting Kansas City II on Sunday, April 26.