The 2025 MLS NEXT All-Stars produced a game for the ages on Monday night from Austin, Texas.

East defeated West by a 4-3 score, thanks to an 86th minute penalty kick from Philadelphia Union midfielder Jamir Johnson. That broke a late tie, ending the seven-goal thriller between the two squads.

Heading into the half, it was a 1-1 tie, as the two teams traded goals. Lorenzo Cornelius engineered the first goal of the game in the 32nd minute. He danced with the ball down the left hand side, eventually wriggling free to the end line and crossing it to Timothy Dennis, who glanced it in.

Cristiano Oliveira tied it for the East four minutes into first-half added time. He nicely corralled a long free kick in the six-yard box, and was able to spin it and fire home.

Both teams sent out new lineups for the second half, laying the foundation for a back-and-forth battle. Orlando City Homegrown signing Gustavo Caraballo put the East out in front with a left-footed shot from distance in the 52nd minute.

Twenty minutes later, West equalized thanks to a tidy finish from FC Dallas midfielder Christopher Cook. A short corner was crossed towards the back of the box, and a header towards the far post eventually found its way to the U.S. youth national team standout. He powered a finish past Zach Cielewich.

Chaos soon reigned down the final stretch. In the 76th minute, Prince Forfor staked the East out to the lead once again. A shot from Johnson hit the crossbar, and Jack Kortkamp made a sensational save from the follow-up header. Forfor, who was advanced in the box, slotted home the record to make it 3-2.

Vancouver Whitecaps forward Tyler Brown tied the game again in the 83rd minute. A chipped in ball from Max Steelman towards the penalty box found Brown in a race with Cielewich. Brown was first to the ball, clipping it around the goalkeeper and escorting it to the back of the net.

The lead was short lived, as a well-taken penalty from Johnson just three minutes later crowned the East champs.

First Half Lineups

East: Jonathon Ransom; Liam Devan, Wyatt Holt, Judah Pritchett, Nash Dearmin; Dylan Judelson, Eloi Breton, Cristiano Oliveira, Robert Turden, Ademar Shavez; Malik Jakupovic

West: Nico Aristizabal; Sahil Deo, August Nystrom, Tyson Espy, Edward Chadwick; Isaiah Kaakoush, Ronan Leeming, Timothy Dennis, KK Spivey, Lorenzo Cornelius; Van Parker

Second Half Lineups

East: Zach Cielewich; Joshua Macedo, Andrei Chirila, Quinton John, Prince Forfor; David Sibrian, Peter Molinari, Jamir Johnson, David Uranga, Gustavo Caraballo; Kervon Kerr

West: Jack Kortkamp; Daniel Barrett, Isac Enriquez, Owen Jorgensen, Jackson Pomeroy; Christian Ayala, Christopher Cook, Max Steelman, Graham Ford, Rylan Hashimoto; Tyler Brown

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