HUNTSVILLE — With a historic performance and an acrobatic effort in an important win last Saturday, two Huntsville City Football Club players were honored by MLS NEXT Pro.

Forward Azaad Liadi was named MLS NEXT Pro Player of Matchday 23, and defender Joey Skinner is nominated for MLS NEXT Pro Goal of Matchday 23.

Liadi made Huntsville City FC history with the club’s first hat trick, helping Huntsville beat Philadelphia Union II 5-2 to move above the playoff line into seventh place. He is also the team’s goal-scoring leader with 11.

“That was an all-around complete performance,” head coach Jack Collison said of Liadi.

“First and foremost, I’m happy with the result (win over Philadelphia),” Liadi said. “I just wanted to help anyway I could and the hat trick is a plus.”

Skinner finished off the night with the team’s final goal in the 89^th minute on a bicycle kick from Ollie Wright’s cross. Skinner has been nominated for Goal of the Matchday twice in the two goals he has scored this season. Fans can vote for Skinner’s goal to win the award on Twitter here.

New week.
New round of nominees.

Voting for Goal of the Matchday is now open! 🗳️ pic.twitter.com/M5xIZTjwDa

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) August 22, 2023

Huntsville City FC returns to action Sunday against Inter Miami II. The match is the third and final meeting between the two clubs this season after Huntsville recorded a 2-0 home win on June 18 and a 4-3 loss in South Florida on April 16.

Kickoff is 6 p.m. at the Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium. Tickets can be purchased here.