North Texas SC came through 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw with Saint Louis City SC 2 in MLS Next Pro. Sidney Paris put Saint Louis ahead in the 37th minute, but Nicholas Simmonds levelled for North Texas in the 45th minute. The shootout was needed to separate the sides.
Paris scored from Nighte Pickering's assist to make it 1-0, and Simmonds replied before half-time with Slade Starnes providing the pass. The second half produced no further goals, leaving the tie to be settled from the penalty spot, where North Texas edged it 8-7.
North Texas created the clearer chances, with 13 shots to Saint Louis's nine and an expected-goals figure of 1.14 to 0.49, while also fashioning three big chances to one. Saint Louis had 59% possession and completed 561 passes to 360, but they could not turn that control into a winning goal.
