Inaugural MLS NEXT Cup Champions in Each of Four Age Groups Crowned in Frisco
Published on July 4, 2021 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
Frisco, TX - The inaugural MLS NEXT Cup Champions were crowned on Friday and Saturday night culminating a 10-month long regular season and week-long MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs and Showcase event in the Dallas area.
The inaugural MLS NEXT Cup Champions are U15 Real Salt Lake Academy, U16 Weston FC, U17 Orlando City SC Academy and U19 Chicago Fire FC Academy. All four championship matches were played on the Toyota Stadium game field, home to MLS club FC Dallas, and streamed live on MLSsoccer.com.
Also announced this weekend, the Golden Boot (top scorer), Best Goalkeeper and Golden Ball (best player) awards for the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in all four age groups.
U15 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: Real Salt Lake Academy
The Real Salt Lake Academy secured the Championship for the U15 division by defeating the Philadelphia Union Academy 2-0 on Friday night. RSL Captain Jude Wellings opened the scoring in the 15th minute collecting a backpass from Izahi Amparo before calmly slotting the ball into the unmarked goal to take the early 1-0 lead. Evan Pickering doubled the lead when he headed home an Angel Morales corner kick in the 65th minute for the Claret and Cobalt and Goalkeeper Fernando Delgado made multiple key saves in the match to solidify the Championship. Download full match highlights HERE.
U15 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
Golden Boot: Axel Kei (Real Salt Lake)
Best Goalkeeper: Andrew Rick (Philadelphia Union)
Golden Ball: Cruz Medina (San Jose Earthquakes)U16 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: Weston FC
Weston FC hoisted the MLS NEXT Cup in the U16 age group by defeating Tampa Bay United in a five-goal thriller on Friday. Weston FC opened the scoring with three first half goals including a goal and an assist from playmaker Benjamin Cremaschi. Tampa Bay United and midfielder Isaiah Wilson came out of the halftime intermission with conviction and the sixteen-year-old struck a 35-yard golazo to get his team back in contention . Tampa Bay United added a second goal in the 72nd minute but ultimately fell 3-2 in the U16 MLS NEXT Cup despite a man up advantage for the final 40-minutes of the match.
U16 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
Golden Boot: Chase Vazquez (Weston FC) and Luke Van Heukelum (Sockers FC)
Best Goalkeeper: Philip Falcon (Tampa Bay United)
Golden Ball: Benjamin Cremaschi (Weston FC)U17 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: Orlando City SC Academy
Orlando City SC Academy and PDA saw many chances throughout the 90-minute match though regulation ended in a 0-0 draw. One of the best chances came for Orlando City winger, Alex Freeman who found a pocket of space to get a shot off, but his shot smashed straight into the post and back into play. While the post was unforgiving in regulation for Freeman, Orlando City were the benefactors during penalty kicks as Mustapha Sowe's opening PK was kept out of the back of the net by the crossbar. Orlando City SC Academy went on to score three consecutive penalty kicks (Alejandro Nasato, Owen VanMarter, Ian Silva) and Goalkeeper Isaac Delgado notched two saves during the shootout with his game-winning penalty kick stop against PDA's Yuxuan Yang.
U17 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
Golden Boot: Tarik Scott (FC Dallas)
Best Goalkeeper: Rafael Ponce de Leon (PDA)
Golden Ball: Christopher Olney Jr. (PDA)U19 MLS NEXT Cup Champions: Chicago Fire FC Academy
Chicago Fire FC defeated Solar SC 1-0 on Saturday night. The lone-goal came from Missael Rodriguez in the 80th minute. Unparalleled awareness shown by the Chicago Fire attacker who, back-to-goal managed to flick a no-look header to the far post and out of the keepers reach to secure the Championship for his team. Rodriguez also earned the Golden Boot for the U19 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs for most goals scored in the tournament. Rodriguez tallied six goals in five matches.
U19 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs Individual Awards
Golden Boot: Missael Rodriguez (Chicago Fire SC)
Best Goalkeeper: Martin Dominguez (Solar SC)
Golden Ball: Sergio Oregel Jr. (Chicago Fire SC)
Major League Soccer Stories from July 4, 2021
- FC Dallas Splits Points with Vancouver Whitecaps FC - FC Dallas
- 'Caps grind out road result during Independence Day festivities - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Rapids Draw Sounders 1-1Ãâà- Colorado Rapids
- U.S. Soccer Selects Nashville as Venue for USA - Canada, Presented by Volkswagen - Nashville SC
- Nashville Soccer Club Announces Date Change in Home Match against New York City FC - Nashville SC
- Chicago Fire FC Continues Homestand Wednesday Night, Host Orlando City SC in Nationally-Televised Match - Chicago Fire FC
- Chicago Fire FC U-19 Academy Team Crowned Inaugural MLS NEXT Cup Champions in Frisco, Texas - Chicago Fire FC
- Armas Relieved of Duties as Toronto FC Head Coach - Toronto FC
- Orlando City SC Loans Matheus Aiás to Real Oviedo - Orlando City SC
- Daniel Gazdag earns first start in Union setback - Philadelphia Union
- Real Salt Lake Falls Narrowly to LAFC 1-0 - Real Salt Lake
- Inaugural MLS NEXT Cup Champions in Each of Four Age Groups Crowned in Frisco - MLS
- LAFC Defeats Real Salt Lake 1-0 for First Road Win of 2021 - Los Angeles FC
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